Rare Bird Report #: 32-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Little Blue Heron

HOW MANY:

1 adult

REPORTER:

Stephen H. Bouffard
961 E. Minidoka Dam Road
Rupert, ID 83350

REPORTER EMAIL:

steve_bouffard@fws.gov

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Steve Bouffard found the bird. Other viewers:

Dick Munoz, Carl Mitchell (208-574-2755), Alan Sands, Rob Larranaga (208-662-5423), Jay Shepherd, Mike Gregg, Mike Fisher (208-237-6617 X 35), Carlos (don't know his last name - visiting bird bander from Venezuela).

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

5/2/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

5/2/2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Minidoka & Cassia Counties, Idaho. The bird was originally seen on the north shore of the Snake River in Minidoka County and flew to the south shore (Cassia County) The bird was 1.7 miles west of the intersection of 400N (Minidoka Dam Road) and 900E. This is about 1.5 miles below Minidoka Dam.

HABITAT:

river bank

CONDITIONS:

I saw it sitting on the river bank as I was driving and immediately decided that it was something unusual. It was too small and wrong colored for a great blue heron, and was too big for a green heron. When I stopped the truck, it flew from the north shore to the south shore and landed. I identified it with binoculars as it flew. We put the scope (Kowa 80mm) on it and got a good look at it. We watched it for 5-10 minuntes. Light wind, partly cloudy; temp 70; sun was high, almost backlit;

Equipment: Eagle Optics binocular 10X42; Kowa 80mm scope, Fuji digital camera

There was some heat distortion with the scope making it difficult to get a really clear photo.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

Yes, during the observation

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, during the observation

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

Sibley's Guide to Birds - used to confirm my ID

DESCRIPTION:

I saw the bird on the river bank from a ways off and knew it was not a great blue heron or a green heron. It was a slender wading bird with a long neck. Body was solid dark slate blue (including the belly), with a purplish or maroon hue to the neck & head. Legs were grayish, feet were the same color as the legs. Beak was long, straight, and was grayish with a black tip.

BEHAVIOR:

standing on the river bank. Flew when we stopped the truck & landed on the opposite bank. Did not feed, vocalize or interact with other birds.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

size, body shape and finally color

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

Tricolored heron has a white belly and is very rare in Idaho. Great blue heron is much larger, has a light gray neck and white on the face. It also has a head plume. Both of these species would be expected in the same habitat as a little blue heron. Green heron has a different color pattern, but more importantly has a shorter neck and a relatively plumper body. The green heron would be more likely to be in trees or roots overhanging the river, rather than wading in the open.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I have seen all the heron species in North America, including this species. This is the first time I have seen this species in Idaho. All the others have been in the southest part of the US.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

Birding 40+years - good level of expertise.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

Photos

[Stacy's note: Photos were originally submitted 1600x1200. I reduced them to 640x480 to display here. Click the image to view the full size, original photos].