ML639830145

Observation details

We were at the bridge and walking towards the scrub when I spotted a heron that I didn't recognize fly in over the lagoon. I backtracked and, luckily, found that it had landed right at the mouth and was foraging near the Snowy Egret. It was bigger than the Snowy and smaller than a nearby Great Egret. A young bird, I think, as, although it reminded me of a Reddish Egret, it didn't have any of the field marks I knew - the bill was mostly solid dark gray rather than half pink, it was foraging more like a Snowy than the "dance" of a Reddish, the plumage was a mix of mottled purplish-rust (especially on the neck) and purplish-blue and the legs and feet were black. But it did show the white iris and the bill was rather stout and dagger-like. It was seen from about about 9-9:30 a.m. at the mouth of the lagoon between the bridge and the ocean then seen leaving the lagoon and flying east along the beach about 10:00 a.m. A million thanks to John C. for bolstering my confidence on the ID and letting others know. [EM]