Rare Bird Report #: 32-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

RARE BIRD REPORT FORM



SPECIES:

Little Blue Heron

HOW MANY:

1 adult

REPORTER:

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429
208-558-7789

REPORTER EMAIL:

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

None on day of observation

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

5/10/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

5/8/2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Snake River about 1.9 miles downstream from Minidoka Dam, near Minidoka, ID.

HABITAT:

Riparian

CONDITIONS:

Duration of observation about 45 seconds. Little or no wind, sun low and directly behind observer at 8:05 pm, distance about 80 yards at the closest with Nikon Premier LX 10 x 42 binocs and Swarovski 80MM HD scope with 20-60 eye piece at variable settings.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

Yes, later the same day

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

Sibley Guide to Birds of North America.

DESCRIPTION:

Small heron that was entirely dark. Bill, head, neck, body and legs all appeared dark gray with no obvious contrast anywhere. I did not notice a greenish cast to the legs or a difference in color between body and neck. The bird was the same size as a Snowy Egret with which it was observed in the same scope and binocular views, as well as with naked eye.

BEHAVIOR:

Flying up the river keeping close company with a Snowy Egret. They were obviously traveling together and stayed together for as long as I could see them.

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

The bird had already been reported by Steve Bouffard so I knew what I was looking for. I recognized it immediately upon seeing it as there is no other entirely dark heron.

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

No other heron is all dark. Size the same as Snowy Egret with all dark plumage, legs and bill eliminates all other herons or egrets. Reddish Egret has obvious rusty red color on head and neck. Tricolored Heron is larger and has white belly. Great Blue is much larger than Snowy Egret. See photo submitted by Steve Bouffard.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I've never seen a Little Blue heron before and am unfamiliar with other small herons/egrets except Cattle and Snowy Egrets.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

14 years.

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

None