Any help appreciated for these 2 egrets near Perth in February. The first one had black legs, so I assume Little Egret despite lots of yellow on the bill. But what is the other bird in pics 2, 3, 4? White morph Pacific Reef Heron perhaps?
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Egrets, Australia (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Wiganlad
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The second bird is definitely Eastern Reef Egret white morph.
It's difficult to judge size in a photo, but for me the jizz, shape and face pattern of the first bird looks the same, and I would say it was also Eastern Reef Egret. It just looks too chunky for Little and the posture just doesn't seem right to me. Legs can get discoloured from gunk, or just look darker and lighter depending on light.
Just my twopence worth.
It's difficult to judge size in a photo, but for me the jizz, shape and face pattern of the first bird looks the same, and I would say it was also Eastern Reef Egret. It just looks too chunky for Little and the posture just doesn't seem right to me. Legs can get discoloured from gunk, or just look darker and lighter depending on light.
Just my twopence worth.
Thanks MacNara. I certainly thought the second bird was Reef Heron and I appreciate your comments on pic 1. The Reef Heron was on Richmond Lake which is only a few hundred metres from the sea, whereas the pic1 bird was on Bibra Lake which is about 10 km inland. I wonder if that helps in any way?
Well, all I can say is that's how it seemed to me. The picture of the first bird and the first picture of the Reef Egret look identical to me. If you said they were the same bird, then I would believe you. But someone with a better eye than me may come along. If you had a photo showing the legs of the first bird - you said they were black, but we can't see them in the photo you posted - then that would clinch it.
The size comparison doesn't help really because Little and Reef are about the same size.
It still looks like Reef to me. If you look at the photos of bird 2 in post #1, the legs are darkish green and have black bits..
I'm going to bow out, and hope someone else will come along and look with a fresh eye.
It still looks like Reef to me. If you look at the photos of bird 2 in post #1, the legs are darkish green and have black bits..
I'm going to bow out, and hope someone else will come along and look with a fresh eye.
Well that's sorted me out!
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