Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk (1 Viewer)

[24justinw74]

Hi everyone. Can anyone help ID these? They were in Norfolk today, I'm still learning this. Thanks!

 

[Julie50]

Hi

I’m going juvenile coot and great white egret

But the more experienced may give you a final ID!

 

[24justinw74]

Thanks. I thought similar for the second one but wasn't sure re the size, perhaps a youngster?

 

[Julie50]

Hi

Size can be deceptive with no other birds for comparison, also very varied in egrets. General guide, yellow bill black feet is a great white, black bill yellow feet is a little

 

[JayFeatherPL]

I think the first bird isn't actually a Coot, but a Moorhen: Note white undertail coverts + a hint of a white line along the flanks can be seen and there is no black-and-white contrast on the head, neck and breast.

 

[Simon G]

It could just be the angle, but that bill looks too short and deep for Great White.

 

[JayFeatherPL]

It could just be the angle, but that bill looks too short and deep for Great White.

But this egret has a yellow bill + pale tibias. No other european large egret has a completely yellow bill and pale tibias.

 

[Julie50]

But legs don’t suggest cattle for me?

 

[stevo]

Juvenile coot & Great white egret.

 

[wheatearlp]

Juv Moorhen & Great (White) Egret

 

[JayFeatherPL]

But legs don’t suggest cattle for me?

Too large & too slim for cattle.

 

[JayFeatherPL]

Juvenile coot & Great white egret.

It's not a coot. It's a moorhen. Explanation above.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

yes, white egrets can be hard to identify on a single picture (with freezing/single picture effects erasing many features/impressions that can be judged during field views/videos).

A quite useful feature, if present (often/regular), to lay your mind to rest, is the long gape line of a Great White Egret, reaching beyond eye. This is visible here.

 

[FormerMemberfor15years]

Definitely a juvie Moorhen and a Great White Egret indeed.