Subject: [Tweeters] Great Egret at Nisqually, similar bird at Ridgefield
Date: Jan 27 12:37:35 2011
From: Dennis Paulson - dennispaulson at comcast.net


Hello, tweets.

As there seem to be lingering questions about the identity of the Nisqually egret, at least in some circles, I wanted to make note of the fact that I photographed a similar-looking bird, with mostly dully yellowish tibiae, at Ridgefield NWR on 19 October of last year. I don't recall when the first sighting of the Nisqually bird was documented, so I don't know if they might have been the same bird, but it doesn't seem highly likely.

If not the same bird, there has recently been more than one egret in the state with those leg colors. My bird could just as easily be suspected of being an Intermediate Egret except for the fact that I watched it fishing for a while, and I know it was a Great Egret. Also, the photos show the gape extending back behind the eye, typical of Great but not Intermediate Egret.

Three things: 1) sorry I don't have a photo website; 2) I guess I don't look at birds as carefully as I might when I'm photographing them; and 3) I have to wonder how many people are looking at Great Egrets in our neck of the woods to try to see if they might be another kind of white heron!

Dennis
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Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net