While walking through Centennial Park (Sydney) yesterday afternoon, i came
across a foraging Egret. It was largish, with black legs, and a yellow
bill. That meant it had to be either Intermediate or Great Egret. This is
where it gets tricky. I did notice (and made a mental note of it at the
time) that the gape extends behind the eye. According to the field guides,
this would indicate a Great Egret.
However, it was standing next to one Royal Spoonbill, and about half a dozen
White Ibis. It was almost exactly the same size as the Spoonbill, and
similar to the Ibis. When i checked the field guides, the Ibis are the same
size as Intermediates, and the spoonbill overlaps both. So if i had to base
it on size alone, i would have said Intermediate.
Unfortunately, i did not think to compare neck length to body size; a key
indicator according to Graham Pizzey. Thinking back, i would havesaid the
neck was longer than the body, but only by about 10cm. Coulld this make it a
Great?
The behavior was distinctive. Whenever something scared it, it would
straighten its neck, and stand as tall as it could, while also standing
stock still. Mostly it would be sowly moving through the water, carefully
searching for food. Sometimes it would freeze, and then slowly stalk
something, until it was close to it. It would then lean forwards, until its
body was almost touching the water (it was standing in water about 7cm deep,
so its body was lowered about a foot) It would then bend its neck up on
itself, like a spring, and then strike at something that was not in the
water. It did this about three times. Most of the time, while slowly
walking, or standing still, the neck would be curled on itself. Not really
tightly, but more than a standard question mark.
I am leaning towards Great Egret, because of the gape. It quite definetly
continued behnd the eye. The size worries me, but could be explained if the
Egret was not full grown, or just a small Great Egret. At the moment, i am
leaning towards Great Egret, but would like to kno what anybody else thinks
Regards,
Ashwin
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