REDDISH Heron?

[jfenton]

I shot this in one of the back ponds early Saturday morning at Merrit Island in early light...is this a "Reddish Heron"? Is there a real name for this bird?

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[bobhoge]

Jim,

We have about worn out the backbone of the Sibley Guide trying to figure all the birds out!

I can get this one down to three choices.

1) Little Blue Heron - dark all over, bluish bill, Greenish legs

2) Reddish Egret (Dark Morph) - Adult should have yellow beak with dark tip, paler overall than Little Blue Heron - Juvenile has blue beak, but very pale body, dark legs

3) Juvenile Tri-colored Heron - Reddish neck, very long bill, Yellow legs.

Without seeing the legs, it is even harder to tell.

My guess is a Little Blue Heron - listed as common in MINWR, while the Reddish Egret is uncommon.

Bob & Nan

 

[GeeJay]

Hi Jim,

I'm pretty sure this picture that I'm posting is a 'Little Blue Heron'... I took it at Corkscrew Swamp in the fall. I don't think it looks like yours---but we need someone who really knows to identify these.

Janet knows and so does Harry..hope they check in on this post.

Gaye

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[Flew]

I believe that it is a Reddish Egret.

Whatever it is, nice shot....

Regards,

Frank

 

[bobhoge]

If it is a Reddish Egret I think it must be a Juvenile since Sibley shows the adult with a real two-tone look of slate grey body and almost pumpkin neck and head. He describes the Juvenile color as pale chalky. There can also be rare intermediates(?)

A look at the legs would really help.

We took this one and I thought it to be a Reddish Egret but the yellow legs made Nan think it a Juvenile Tri-colored Heron, the neck and head looks the same color as Jim's:

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Gaye, yours is certainly a Little Blue Heron.

Anyone ever seen/photographed an adult Reddish Egret?

Help!
Bob & Nan

 

[Gale]

This is a Reddish Egret

I found this Reddish Egret at MWR a couple weeks prior to the shoot. The Mirror Image I posted was also a Reddish at the Fla Session.

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View attachment 5650

He also doesnt stalk his prey, from what I saw, He dances all over the place chasing it. Quite a character to watch.

Cheers
Gale

 

[bobhoge]

Thanks Gale, this is what I was looking for to match the Sibley drawing.

Light bill with dark tip
Black legs
Significant difference in color between head/neck and body. Body light grey, head/neck red-orange.

Based on your photo, I think Jim's bird and the one I photographed is not a Reddish Egret, at least not an adult.

Bob

 

[jfenton]

Actually, I would rather that the bird I shot wasn't a true reddish heron...they are kinda clutzy looking

 

[Gale]

Clutz ????

Who called me a clutz

I'm not a Heron, I am and Egret

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[PhotoDawg]

Nice reflection......WOW!!!