Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Reddish Egret
Scientific name:	Egretta rufescens
Date:	8-04-07 [2 Aug 2007]
Time:	12:15 pm
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	one
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Location: Southeast corner of Shoveler Pond, Fish Springs, Juab County,
County:	Juab
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	20 yards
Optical equipment:	binoculars
Weather:	Weather: nice but a little wind
Light Conditions:	fair
Description: Size of bird:	looked about 6 inches bigger than snowy egrets by it
(Description:) Basic Shape:	like a heron or egret
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	rufous head and neck, body black and bluish, legs dark
(Description:) Bill Type:	narrow and longer than head ,dark tip, the rest dark with slight orange and yellow
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	The bill was dark tipped but looked dark over all. We could see orange and yellow in it. At the back of the bill, we could see a gray pinkish area by the eye. The rufous color on the head was smooth but at the back stuck out. The body was dark but seemed to be blueish. The legs were dark but we never saw the feet for it was standing in water. It never moved while we were watching it. At first we though it was asleep til we saw the eye which seemed to be a light yellow. We talked about the size of the bird compared to the snowy egrets by it and felt we had the right ID. We had a book in the trunk of the car but didn't want to get out of the car to get it. Later as we looked at the book, and the little blue heron we still felt the bird was an reddish egret. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none
Behavior:	It just stood still
Habitat:
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	As we were watching the bird I asked Angie Branch if it could be a heron and she was telling me about both birds which she had seen before. She did an Anthropolodgy class in Arizonia and had seen the bird and had done a paper on the little blue heron. She had also seen the birds in Florida. We even talked of how nice it would be if it was a tricolored heron.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Angie Branch had seen it in Arizonia and Florida
References consulted:	National Geographic Field Guide and Sibley's Field Guide
Description from:	Notes taken at time of sighting
Observer:	Pat Jividen
Observer's address:	6748 Hollowdale Dr. SLC Ut 84121
Observer's e-mail address:	birderpat@hotmail. com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Angie Branch Deloy Pack
Date prepared:	8-12-07
Additional material:	Photos
Additional Comments:	We went back to the fish springs head quaters and reported the bird. They wanted us to go back and show it to them. They wanted to get pictures. We went back to the shoveler unit but it had moved to the Mallard Pond and was out about 300 yards. Robert Sims took a few pictures through his scope.