Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2011-36
| Common name: |
Little Blue Heron |
| Scientific name: | Egretta caerulea |
| Date: | July 29, 2011 |
| Time: | 10:10 AM |
| Length of time observed: | 5 min, still present an hour later |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | |
| Location: | within sight of Ranger Station, Ouray NWR, Utah |
| County: | Uintah |
| Latilong: | |
| Elevation: | |
| Distance to bird: | approx. 100 yards |
| Optical equipment: | Kowa TSN-883 |
| Weather: | sunny |
| Light Conditions: | clear, sunny |
| Description: Size of bird: | similar to nearby Cattle Egrets |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | heron/egret |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | solid dark blue |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | straight/slightly-decurved, bicolor |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
solid blue, similar in size to nearby Cattle Egret, bicolored bill (darker near
tip), greyish legs (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | silent |
| Behavior: | idle, preening, perched on low fallen tree |
| Habitat: | perched on low fallen tree, over flooded marsh area, about 30 feet from edge |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Straight bill eliminates Ibis. Blue plumage eliminates all the white egrets and herons. All-dark blue plumage and fairly small size eliminate GB Heron and Tricolored Heron. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
I see them fairly often at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, New York, near my home |
| References consulted: | Sibley-western |
| Description from: | From memory |
| Observer: | Christopher Eliot |
| Observer's address: | 379 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238 |
| Observer's e-mail address: | eliot001@umn.edu |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | none |
| Date prepared: | July 31, 2011 |
| Additional material: | 8 or so additional photos available [four photos are posted] |
| Additional_Comments: | see photo of this bird posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eliotc/5995733652/ |