Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Well, this is going to be a long story, and a bit strange, but... I went out early this morning to try and get one or two eagles coming into my favorite local lake. None showed up.
It involves an ID and a GBH chase.
After yesterday's news about having the first ever recorded Snowy Egret sighting last may in my home Susquehanna County in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, I stood up from my crouch today and I looked a LONG way down the lake and saw a large white, I presumed bird, along the shoreline glistening in the rising sun. Very odd, not again!! I quickly walked back to where my car was parked, moved it over nearer the white bird and walked down to the opposite shore.
There were two GBH across from me, and down further--a good few hundred yards away--was a large, white-only looking bird. Armed with just a D-80 and 300mm and the bird sitting right in the hot sun, I started shooting as best I could anyway. It stood and crouched as I watched for about 10 minutes.
Then, it flew up, and out of nowhere one of the GBH also flew, and chased after the unidentified bird. Incredible. The "fight" broke off without any damage and the white bird went all the way down to the far end of the lake. I sat and waited about 45 minutes and sure enough it flew up and by me eventually heading out of sight.
I'll post a series of pictures, most at a great distance in the bright sun. I'll post the bird in question alone, and a couple of distant shots of the GBH chase where the differences are quite obvious--but in the chase shots, there appears to be a bit of light blue on the top wing feathers. I'm confused at this point. I really thought by the head position in flight, the long black legs and the beak and eye it is a Great Egret--I know they've been seen here before, but this would be another rare event. Then I thought, leucistic GBH??? Or a Great White Morph, but they are normally only in the Florida area I believe.
Sorry, this was a strange day--also saw a very light doe with her two normally colored fawns, and two whitish ducks in the mist when I first arrived. Weird, weird morning--even for me.
First for the ID--shot #1 may do it, then the ensuing chase.
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:10 PM
another flight shot...
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:13 PM
flying on the distant shoreline...
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:17 PM
on the shoreline...
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Then the mini-confrontation begins... and is there blue on the wings or is that the water reflecting?? I've never seen these GBH go after another bird here.
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:19 PM
The chasee and the chaser...
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 1:19 PM
one last one, finally.
Posted by Mia McPherson on September 5, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Looks like a Great Egret to me Bill
Posted by Buck Ward on September 5, 2010 at 1:52 PM
I concur with Mia - it is a great egret. The 'bit of light blue on the top wing feathers' is a trick of the light, I think.
Posted by Bill Maile on September 5, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Thank you Mia and Buck, that's what I had originally thought. I think you are right about the light and the blue! So strange, a Snowy, eagles, many heron, osprey and now a Great Egret, not to mention all the other things--never would have seen this here 5 or 10 years ago. Never.
Discussion
9 repliesIt involves an ID and a GBH chase.
After yesterday's news about having the first ever recorded Snowy Egret sighting last may in my home Susquehanna County in the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, I stood up from my crouch today and I looked a LONG way down the lake and saw a large white, I presumed bird, along the shoreline glistening in the rising sun. Very odd, not again!! I quickly walked back to where my car was parked, moved it over nearer the white bird and walked down to the opposite shore.
There were two GBH across from me, and down further--a good few hundred yards away--was a large, white-only looking bird. Armed with just a D-80 and 300mm and the bird sitting right in the hot sun, I started shooting as best I could anyway. It stood and crouched as I watched for about 10 minutes.
Then, it flew up, and out of nowhere one of the GBH also flew, and chased after the unidentified bird. Incredible. The "fight" broke off without any damage and the white bird went all the way down to the far end of the lake. I sat and waited about 45 minutes and sure enough it flew up and by me eventually heading out of sight.
I'll post a series of pictures, most at a great distance in the bright sun. I'll post the bird in question alone, and a couple of distant shots of the GBH chase where the differences are quite obvious--but in the chase shots, there appears to be a bit of light blue on the top wing feathers. I'm confused at this point. I really thought by the head position in flight, the long black legs and the beak and eye it is a Great Egret--I know they've been seen here before, but this would be another rare event. Then I thought, leucistic GBH??? Or a Great White Morph, but they are normally only in the Florida area I believe.
Sorry, this was a strange day--also saw a very light doe with her two normally colored fawns, and two whitish ducks in the mist when I first arrived. Weird, weird morning--even for me.
First for the ID--shot #1 may do it, then the ensuing chase.