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This bird sounds interesting and I'd like to be
kept appraised of future occurrence, opinions and developments.
It sounds a lot like some birds which have been
seen and photographed on Cocos Islands and possibly some puzzling individuals
from Christmas Island. We wonder whether some could be Western Reef Egrets but I
favour possibility of Little Egret/Eastern Reef Egret hybrids. So as much detail
and photographic evidence as possible should be collected. See John Darnell's
write up in Johnstone & Storr (2004), Handbook of Western Australian
Birds Vol. 2, Appendix B page 488.
In any case, an Eastern Reef Egret in Port Phillip
Bay would, I reckon, be a first!
A paper by Peter Menkhorst and myself on 'Nominate
Race of Little Egret in Australia', which includes a record from Werribee, is
due for publication this year in Australian Field
Ornithology.
Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mt
Eliza VIC 3930
Ph: (03) 9787
7136
Email:
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