Re: [MDOsprey] RFI: Any Recent Sightings of the Little Egret?
Leslie Roslund (Lroslund@bluecrab.org)
Wed, 16 Jun 1999 22:48:30 -0400
Today, from 3:15 to 5:15 the Little Egret was back at Raymond Pool, and
stayed in the ditch quite close to the road about 1/3 the way up from the
south end culvert. During this time the bird was feeding vigorously, and
was totally unwilling to allow any Snowy to come close. Some of the time
the bird came so close that my scope view was filled by just the head and
part of the neck. The plumes were great, and the face markings
unmistakable. While I watched, Matt Hafner and Spike Upthegrove came
along, and were on their way to Shearness until I flagged them down with
word that the favored bird was here. Matt returned the favor quickly by
finding the White-faced Ibis for me - I had looked without success. All of
us also watched the two Wilson's Phalaropes amongst a batch of Dowitchers.
My books showing Little Egret make a pretty clear indication that the bird
should have yellow feet - much like our Snowy Egrets, but during the two
hours of watching, I could not pick up any evidence of this one's feet
being anything but black just like the legs. Perhaps the yellow was just
mud covered, but when this bird flew up while driving Snowys away from the
same muddy space, the Snowy feet showed bright yellow and the feet of this
bird still appeared only black. Have others seen yellow feet (and I was
just looking at mud), or are black feet characteristic for some of the
Little Egrets?
The books I refer to are:
The Birds of Britian and Europe, by Heinzel, et al
A Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe, by Peterson, et al
and,
Birds of East Africa, by John G. Williams.
Les Roslund
Lroslund@bluecrab.org
Easton, MD