| Common Name | Tricolored Heron |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Egretta tricolor |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 10/07/2024 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Allan Strong |
| Mailing Address | 9 Sebring Road South Burlington, VT 05403 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 10/12/2024 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | None |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.981192 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.119648 |
| Place Name | Mouth of Dead Creek |
| Township | Highgate Springs |
| County | Franklin |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 07:49 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 25 min |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 2640 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 2640 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Sun directly over my shoulder when I first arrived, but it quickly clouded over resulting in poor light. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Kowa TSN2 15-60X (82mm) |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | I have published several papers on the feeding ecology of Tricolored Herons while living in FL. I typically see them every year, but this is the first time in VT. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | This bird was in moderately shallow open water with no vegetation nearby. Ring-billed Gulls were the only other species nearby. |
| Behaviors Observed | He was mostly standing with some stretching and preening. No active foraging. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | From eBird checklist, which was written in the field: Imm with reddish brown head and neck, contrasting with a blue-gray back. Bright white belly with narrow white streak extending to the chin. Long pointed bill, lighter at base and on the lower mandible. Legs looked greenish, but not great light. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Clearly a heron/egret, with long legs, long neck, long, and pointed bill. |
| Head | I could see that the white on the belly extended up through the center of the neck and ended at the chin. |
| Feet & Bill | I thought the legs were greenish. |
| Upper Back | Clearly an immature as the reddish brown head and neck contrasted with the blue-gray back. |
| Wings | Blue-gray |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Very bright white belly which is what stood out to me when I first spotted this bird. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Although there were no other adjacent wading birds for comparison, the bright white belly eliminates Little Blue Heron (similar size) and Great Blue Heron (much larger). |
| Other Notes & Comments | First year bird. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | During the Observation |
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