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Exe Egret (1 Viewer)

Gerry Hooper

Certified User
Took a quick shot of this Egret as it flew past me on the 27 feb on the river Exe near Turf.
Looks like aCattle Egret to me what do you think ?
 

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Thanks for your comments folks, though I'm still not convinced it was a Little Egret.
The bill does look a bit long but it was very yellow.
 
I am wondering if a trick of light is to play here?

Its not a Cattle Egret as the bill is far too long, I would expect a Great White Egret to be larger overall in terms of body mass (they look long in flight), I would also expect to see much longer legs. If this bird had all dark bill and all dark legs would anyone question it as a Little Egret? Doubt it.

So it's a Little Egret that is either abnormal or its an effect of the camera.

Cheers,
 
I'm thinking GW Egret on this one. The most important thing is how it looked in the field. I think the "squatness" is probably down to the angle of the shot and the way its been taken. If it was a lot bigger than Little Egrets you see, then it was probably Great White. If it wasn't, then its a Little Egret. It is definately not a Cattle Egret, however I would have no qualms about it being a Little.

Sam
 
Thanks for your input folks, sorry have deleted all other copies.
Will learn from this and make a point of properly identifying birds before I get the Camera out.
Looking back through other Little Egret Photos it's apparent there are a few with yellow looking bills.
Cheers
 
Great White Egret for me, the bill is yellow (not clearly visible due to the dull lighting) and the feet are black (unlike the yellow feet of Little Egrets). Agree with Knotsbirder the "squatness" is down to the angle of the shot.
 
Although it looks like a little, on my monitor is has a very strong, consistently yellow beak and yellowish legs. I have never seen a little with nearly this amount of yellow-though maybe I have just never seen this variation.
 
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