[NatureNS] On Great Egrets

Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:28:09 -0300
From: iamclar@dal.ca
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Akk:

Given the recent flurry of Great Egrets, as a long shot NS birders should be
keeping an eye open for a special one discovered and photographed at
Chinncoteaugue NWA, Virginia, during May. That one had all-black bill as well
as legs -- characteristic of the African subspecies. It presumably came north
after having drifted across the Atlantic to the W. Indies, as has been
postulated for Atlantic Coast Little Egrets and the W. Reef-Heron of 2006.

It hasn't been seen since in Virginia and may have continued north. It would be
easy to spot if it retains the (courtship season) black bill, and should still
show a black or mostly black bill, but this will become yellow, like ours, as
the season progresses. Then the olive-gray rather than yellow lores might be a
useful field mark.

So, good searching.

Cheers, Ian McLaren

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