Other persons have suggested: Great-billed Heron,
Magpie Goose, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Magpie Goose, Rufous
Night Heron, a bittern or a spoonbill. No one was able to answer whether herons
often fly with their neck outstratched?
I must admit when I fist saw it my brain
said Magpie Goose - Great-billed Heron was the second bird I thought of
after checking texts - but rationality kicked in and decided neither of those
was a very likely at all.
Definatly wasn't a spoonbill - their plumage is
all-over white, and the only white or pale colouration I could see was under the
wings. Night-heron and bittern match the wing shape and flight style, the fact
that I've seen the bird both times in the evening when those species may be
leaving their daytime roosts - but it had a reasonably long neck. So leaves
me leaning towards a White-necked (pacific) heron that was flying with it's
neck stretched out twice - but Im pretty sure the bird I saw didn't have a
white neck.
Last night turned up nothing new, so maybe tonight
will be better .. or tomorrow night .. or the night after ...
Such is birding!!
Thanks for your help ..
-
Claire
