Marsh bird help please, Baghdad July 18, 2021 (1 Viewer)

[bhutjoe]

Hi, I have attached photos of two different birds that I would appreciate ID help on. Unfortunately they are not very good photos. They were taken overlooking a sandbar on the Tigris near the US embassy in Baghdad. Over the last two months quite a number of reeds have grown on the sandbar, turning it into a bit of a marsh.
The bird in the first three photos I am thinking is possibly a great bittern, based on thickness of neck and overall body colour. But perhaps it is a juvenile night heron? Or something else? The third photo has what I think is one of a small flock of feral geese, though it seems to have a longer neck than the others.
The last 3 photos include 2 different birds. One bird in the first photo and the same bird in the second two. I think they are Moorhens but again would appreciate confirmation or correction.
thank you in advance for your assistance
steve

 

[Butty]

1-3. Bittern or black-headed night-heron. The latter is what occurs to me first.
3. Domestic goose.
4-6. Moorhen, as you say.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Agree with Butty,
just want to add the Night Heron is a juvenile bird by real dark blackish-brown plumage and large white spots, as bhutjoe has said. It gives a slight strange feeling to me, too. But i think this is only due to picture quality and haze. It is no Bittern or Little Bittern.

 

[Andy Hurley]

black-headed night-heron.

Do you mean Black-crowned Night Heron? I couldn't find Black-headed in our Opus

 

[bhutjoe]

Thank you Alex and Butty. Your time staring at those awful photos is much appreciated.
steve

 

[Butty]

Do you mean Black-crowned Night Heron?

Yes. Thank you.