Id (1 Viewer)

seb_seb

Well-known member

• Jun 10, 2003

• #1

Hi there can anybody help me with the id of birds i saw today.

-Seen in flight :flyaway:
-overall white.grey appearance
-a bit smaller than a grey heron
-Rounded but not hunched wings
-No trailing legs, but tail that gets smaller as it gets further from birds body
-3 seen together, in a line quite spread out
-Made a "tweak" noise, quite highpitched and repeated 3 times in the space of about 7 seconds. Sounded a bit like the "pink" calls of a chaffinch

(p.s smart remarks not welcome:-C)

 

Last edited: Jun 10, 2003

birdman

Орнитол&

• Jun 10, 2003

• #2

Some sort of goose?

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jun 10, 2003

• #3

I'd agree, a goose. From the call, maybe Pink-footed, there are a few feral ones of these wandering around

Michael

 

C

cjay

Well-known member

• Jun 10, 2003

• #4

I wonder if they were Little Egrets?

CJ

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Jun 10, 2003

• #5

Little Egret's legs trail quite a way beyond the end of the tail, but it is interesting that you have used a grey Heron as a guide to size, seb_seb.

Did they have bent necks as herons do in flight, or outstretched, which would point, again, to something more goose-like?

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 10, 2003

• #6

How about Black-crowned Night Herons?

 

D

Darrell Clegg

Well-known member

• Jun 11, 2003

• #7

That would be something Charles!
We do get Black -crowned Night Herons in the UK but only as rare visitors (about 6 per year?)

Darrell

 

seb_seb

Well-known member

• Jun 11, 2003

• #8

I didnt really look at the neck, but it wasnt obviously long. Thank you for the suggestions. Ive had a look on www.birdguides.com and Pink-Footed Goose seems to fit quite well in shape. It says that they have a small neck and show a white and grey chest and underbelly in flight. It says nothing about its call though.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 11, 2003

• #9

Wish I knew something about British birds.... problem was, I just scanned the first line of Mullarney: "breeds colonially... summer visitor..." before opening my big mouth.

 

D

Darrell Clegg

Well-known member

• Jun 11, 2003

• #10

Don't worry about it Charles. I couldn't tell you the breeding range of the majority of U.S. birds - and as for Japanese species.....


Darrell