Purple Heron Ardea purpurea: Photographed in the same place at the same time as the Black Crowned Night Heron above.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta:
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| In the Vienne River at Chinon. (Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus to the right.) |
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| In the Vienne River at Chinon. (Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus to the right.) |
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Worth pointing out the Egret "jizz" factors...
ReplyDeleteCattle Egret...
small, hangs around with cattle...
in breeding plumage pinky-orange on head, chest and wing ends...
yellow bill [juvenile has a black bill]...
v.pale legs...
tidy tail
Little Egret...
Black legs, yellow feet [sudden difference... as if it stood in paint]...
black [or mainly black bill]...
plumes from back of head...
rough looking tail...
gentle s-bend in neck...
Great Egret...
As tall as a white heron...
long dark legs...
neck has a pronounced s-bend [looks almost "broken"]...
Bright yellow bill in winter [or a non-breeding individual]... goes blackish to very black in breeding condition...
wonderful long tail plumes in breeding/summer...
non-breeders are very tidy at rear.