Life on a family farm
in the wilds of
Upstate New York
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Great White Bird
Seen at the mall in Rotterdam today. It flew low across the road right in front of us. It seemed too small for a white heron, but had black feet so not a snowy egret. Hmmm.....
Cathy, I think you are right. I need to agonize over the field guides a bit more, because it really looked like a snowy about the head, but it definitely had black feet. I was astonished to see it at all, as they are not exactly common up here.
I love a good bird mystery! OK. There's this from Audubon regarding little blue herons: "However, these birds are white for their first year, associating with other white egrets that feed in open habitats." Scroll half way down the page to get the blue heron images: http://www.jrcompton.com/photos/The_Birds/herons/Herons-v-egrets.html
Cathy, it was definitely very pure white with yellow on the face. It wasn't pure yellow like a great egret. I am wondering if the lighting was such that I just couldn't see the yellow feet, because it really, really looked like a snowy. Wish we got down there more so maybe I could see it again, but then again I hate, hate, hate the city. lol
Cathy, very frustrating for sure. It was nice just to see it whichever it was. Neither are exactly everyday birds up here so it was a treat to see it flying so low...
I'm thinking great egret.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hoganphoto.com/wading_birds.htm
Cathy, I think you are right. I need to agonize over the field guides a bit more, because it really looked like a snowy about the head, but it definitely had black feet. I was astonished to see it at all, as they are not exactly common up here.
ReplyDeleteI love a good bird mystery!
ReplyDeleteOK. There's this from Audubon regarding little blue herons:
"However, these birds are white for their first year, associating with other white egrets that feed in open habitats."
Scroll half way down the page to get the blue heron images:
http://www.jrcompton.com/photos/The_Birds/herons/Herons-v-egrets.html
Cathy, it was definitely very pure white with yellow on the face. It wasn't pure yellow like a great egret. I am wondering if the lighting was such that I just couldn't see the yellow feet, because it really, really looked like a snowy. Wish we got down there more so maybe I could see it again, but then again I hate, hate, hate the city. lol
ReplyDeleteYep. One of those situations that if only your trusty camera had been at hand :)
ReplyDeleteCathy, very frustrating for sure. It was nice just to see it whichever it was. Neither are exactly everyday birds up here so it was a treat to see it flying so low...
ReplyDelete