Hi all,
An unusual heron/egret has been seen associating with cattle egrets in
Inchclutha, near Balclutha in the South Island of New Zealand. The full
text and a photo of the bird can be found at
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/eco-vist/hotoffpress2.htm
The following is a description written by Richard Schofield who is
responsible for first seeing the bird.
Size: Very similar to adjacent cattle egrets Bubulcus ibis
Shape: As cattle egret, with very hunched posture, but more horizontal
gait, bill longer and relatively slimmer, tapering more evenly. No jowl
on underside of bill. Forehead not as steep as cattle egret.
Plumage: Entire neck rufous, forecrown pale grey, small whitish patch on
chin, rest of plumage dark bluish-grey, perhaps a shade paler than reef
heron Egretta sacra, though much darker than white-faced heron Ardea
novaehollandiae. Some plumes visible on back and throat, and nape.
Bare parts: Bill - lemon yellow, greyish yellow towards base. Iris
yellow, legs dull yellow, bare yellow patch on face between bill and
eye, with black stripe below it.
Behaviour: When first seen, feeding actively amongst cattle (and cattle
egrets). At one point chased a cattle egret. On subsequent occasions,
usually accompanying one or more cattle egrets, also seen alongside
white-faced heron. Apart from colouration, appearance in flight was
indistinguishable from accompanying cattle egrets - same size and shape,
same flight action.
Some further observations on the bird (to muddy the waters even more?)
The presence of plumes on the neck and back (which unfortunately don't
show up in the photos) do not suggest an immature bird.
Reef heron would surely appear larger than cattle egret, and there's
plenty of more suitable habitat locally than a field full of cows.
The dark grey plumage of the body, wings and tail was completely
uniform, with no hint of any paler areas, or even paler fringes to the
feathers. Again, the neck was uniformly coloured, with no stripes or
paler areas.
The bird appeared healthy at all times, feeding actively and frequently
preening. Took flight readily with the cattle egrets.
I (Richard Schofield) can find only two references to melanistic cattle
egrets (India & Spain). No photos, but these birds both had paler
primaries. Also, the Inchclutha bird has a different feeding action &
posture to the adjacent cattle egrets. A hybrid seems high on the list
of possibilities, but of what...?
This was posted to BIRDING-NZ earlier in the week, and discussion has
included the following possibilities ?
Reef heron/egret ? immature, sick
Green/striated heron
Melanistic cattle egret
Cattle egret/white-faced heron/reef heron hybrid
Currently, the discussion favours the latter two.
We would be interested in any feedback/thoughts.
Regards
Brent
---------------------------------
Eco-Vista: Photography & Research
&
Wrybill Birding Tours, NZ
Brent Stephenson Msc (Hons)
8 Mountain View Road
Palmerston North
New Zealand
Phone +64 (06) 354 4105
Cell +64 (0274) GANNET (426638)
Email
Website http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/eco-vist/
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/eco-vist/wrybilltours/wrybillhome.htm
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