[NatureNS] Little Blue Heron - Another One

From: "Paul Murray" <murraypaul@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <3955242677E744E39EB2F429570DFFDF@PaulsPC> <575286F6-6662-4FAB-B2A9-6354AB2CA7DE@dal.ca>
Date: Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:43:13 -0300
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Ulli,

You mentioned the "streamer like feathers on the tail" of the Martinique =
and the Mahone Bay  Little Blue Herons:   I checked all my photos of the =
Mahone Bay bird vs. the Martinique bird and they do seem to be the same =
with regard to the tail.  However,  I performed a "Google" search for =
images of Little Blue Herons and came up with maybe 10% of the birds =
showing the "streamers" in breeding plumage.  Maybe this is dependant =
upon actual stage of breeding plumage?  Ref: Cornel eField Guide for a =
good example of two birds in "breeding plumage" - one with "streamers" =
and one without!  My other field guide references such as Petersons, =
National Geographic, Sibleys and Smithsonian, do not show the =
"streamers" in breeding plumage but National Wildlife Federation does =
show them!

Whereas the Martinique and Mahone Bay subjects could be the same bird =
due to the tail adornments, I had the distinct impression that the one =
at Martinique was much darker than the Mahone Bay bird.  This could be =
because of significantly different lighting conditions - today was =
overcast and dull while at Mahone Bay it was bright and sunny.   There =
was one other difference that I noted from my pictures:  The "eye ring" =
and base of the bill was very light and obvious in the Mahone Bay bird =
vs. the Martinique bird which showed almost no eye ring and a darker =
bill base - once again this could have been the poor lighting today vs. =
the bright lighting at Mahone Bay.

Paul


From: Ulli=20
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 6:16 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Little Blue Heron - Another One


Hello Folks,=20


Looking at Paul's photos I noticed the streamer like feathers on the =
bird's tail.
I did notice similar feathers on the Mahone Bay bird 3 weeks ago.
Is this a regular detail of breeding plumage adult Little Blue Herons, =
or does this feature may point to the possibility that this is the same =
individual?


Ulli




On 26-Apr-10, at 5:46 PM, Paul Murray wrote:


  April 26, 2010
  East Petpeswick Road,=20
  West Chezzetcook, NS

  Made a run down to Martinique Beach this afternoon to see what was =
around, especially looked for the Piping Plovers.  No sign of them but =
the weather was not especially good for them either.  However, on the =
return trip on the East Petpeswick Rd, I discovered another Little Blue =
Heron when I stopped to look at a Great Blue Heron.  Both birds were =
feeding near the shore of Petpeswick Inlet just south of municipal lot =
910 - there is a small white cottage on the left side of the road =
directly opposite of the bird's location this afternoon.  Approximate =
GPS coordinates are: N 44.44.626 and W 063.08.998 (or, at least that's =
what my Garmin GPS says, if I can believe it!)

  When I approached the GB Heron, the Little Blue Heron surprised me =
when he flew off to some nearby trees.  I got a couple of pictures of =
him in the tree but not great quality due to the complexity of tree =
branches.    After a while he took flight again and flew around the =
corner.  I did manage to get some good pics of him in flight.  They can =
be seen in my online gallery at:

  =
http://scranlocker.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=3D11974415&Albu=
mKey=3DyETkS

  Paul Murray
  Dartmouth

  Note:=20
  PM




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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Ulli,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>You mentioned the "streamer like feathers on the =
tail" of=20
the Martinique and the Mahone Bay&nbsp; Little Blue Herons:&nbsp;&nbsp; =
I=20
checked all my photos of the Mahone Bay bird&nbsp;vs. the Martinique =
bird and=20
they do seem to be the same with regard to the tail.&nbsp; =
However,&nbsp; I=20
performed a "Google" search for images of Little Blue Herons and =
came&nbsp;up=20
with maybe 10% of the birds showing the "streamers" in breeding =
plumage.&nbsp;=20
Maybe this is dependant upon actual stage of breeding plumage?&nbsp; =
Ref: Cornel=20
eField Guide for a good example of two birds in "breeding plumage" - one =
with=20
"streamers" and one without!&nbsp; My other field guide references such =
as=20
Petersons, National Geographic, Sibleys and&nbsp;Smithsonian, <STRONG>do =
not=20
show</STRONG> the "streamers" in breeding plumage&nbsp;but National =
Wildlife=20
Federation <STRONG>does show</STRONG> them!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Whereas the Martinique and Mahone Bay =
subjects&nbsp;could=20
be the same bird due to the tail adornments, I had the distinct =
impression that=20
the one at Martinique was much darker than the Mahone Bay bird.&nbsp; =
This could=20
be because of significantly&nbsp;different lighting conditions - today =
was=20
overcast and dull while at Mahone Bay it was bright and =
sunny.&nbsp;&nbsp; There=20
was one other difference that I noted from my pictures:&nbsp;&nbsp;The =
"eye=20
ring" and base of the bill was very light and obvious in the Mahone Bay =
bird vs.=20
the Martinique bird which showed almost no eye ring and a darker bill =
base -=20
once again this could have been the poor lighting today vs. the bright =
lighting=20
at Mahone Bay.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial>Paul</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"BACKGROUND: #f5f5f5">
<DIV style=3D"font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A=20
title=3D"mailto:uhoeger@dal.ca&#10;CTRL + Click to follow l