I believe the small white heron near Walla Walla, reported as a 1st-year
Little Blue Heron is a Cattle Egret. Structurally and behaviorally, it is a
Cattle Egret. Some plumage and sofy part colors resemble some Little Blue
Herons. It is not near water; it is in fenced fields with cows and horses,
sauntering about apparently rumaging for insects. Its plumage is all snowy
white, with no blackish wingtips as is usual for an immature Little Blue.
The bill proportioned correctly for a Cattle Egret, very unlike that of a
Little Blue. It is true in poor light bill coloration is a dusky blue, but
in good light there is some yellowish.

Of interest, a Great Egret and Great Blue Heron were frequenting the same
fields; the egret is a rare bird in the Walla Walla Valley at any season,
particularly so in December.

The trip was a good one for other species. Denny Granstrand and I escaped
the frozen fog, deep snow and sub-freezing temperatures of the Yakima Valley
and basked in warm sunshine in the snow-free Walla Walla and Tri-Cities
region. We observed a 1st-year Glaucous Gull at Wallula, thousands and
thousands of Canada Geese at McNary, two Swamp Sparrows on the McNary Refuge
Loop Trail (about .5 mile west of parking area, south side of slough). We
also observed a Lincoln's Sparrow there too. I always delight in birding
that trail in fall in winter; there is always lots to see: gobs of waterfowl
of many species, and tons of sparrows and other small landbirds in the
Russian olives.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA