I was down near the Peel River this morning, about twenty kms upstream from
Tamworth, when a heavy bodied bird flew low along the river past me.
It had to be either a bittern or an immature night heron.
It disappeared aroung a bend, so I didn't watch it for long, but I did get a
pretty clear view of it. My impression was of a bird that was all over
dull charcoal in colour. There were no obvious markings and definitely no
striations as far as I could see. Size wise, I felt it was a bit bigger
than a little black cormorant and much thicker in the body.
Any young night herons I've seen have been heavily striated. Are they ever
without them? My feeling is that I've seen an Australasian Bittern, but
I'd like to hear your comments.
The river has very heavy vegetation (includingreeds) all along it at the
vicinity of the sighting. The banks are fairly high in the main, so the
river is contained - ie although there's continual, thick shelter, there
aren't any spread out swamps.
Cheers Annabel Ashworth
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