All, I apologize for neglecting to mention the wader's behavior.  During the
10 - 15 minutes I observed the bird I watched it hunt.  It didn't exhibit
the flamboyant behavior of the Reddish Egret... I'll go out on a limb and
say I believe it was a 2nd year Tricolored Heron.  Thanks.

Paul Mackey
Hagerstown, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Paul Mackey
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 8:02 PM
To: 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Help Identify a Wader

On Jun 7 around 11:00 am, I went birding on Theodore Roosevelt Island, just
off of the George Washington Parkway.  Under the Roosevelt bridge just at
the end/beginning of the boardwalk I saw a medium-size wader. My
observations were all made within 100 feet of the bird who was very
cooperative.  My gut reaction was that it was a Reddish Egret but since it
would be a life bird I took my time looking at its markings.  Because size
can be very deceptive, I usually do not rely on it too strongly but this
bird was too small and didn't have the right markings to be a Great Blue
Heron.  Its back was gray with a brownish gray neck.  It stood in water deep
enough I could not see the leg color.  The bird's bill appeared dark on top,
lighter on the bottom and had a yellow tip.  Its throat may have been
whitish.  There was no breeding plume, and its head presented a sleek
appearance with a darkish cap.

 

The two closest birds I can find in any of my many field guides are a 2nd
year Tricolored Heron or a variation of a Reddish Egret.  I don't know which
birds are likely to be on the Potomac, but the Breeding Atlas I have doesn't
show them there.  Any help in identifying the wader is greatly appreciated. 

 

Paul Mackey

Hagerstown, MD