Western Reef Heron at Faenza, NE Italy, on August 11, 2006

Mauro Ferri and Mario Bonora were able to watch a Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) of the gularis dark phase at Faenza, NE Italy, in an area where a White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) reintroduction and restocking project is carried out. The first picture by Menotti Passarella shows a probable hybrid Egretta gularis x Egretta garzetta found on April 6 to 8, 2001, in the Po Delta, NE Italy. There are recent claims of reproduction of mixed pairs Western Reef Heron with Little Egret in N Italy. E.g., the second picture, courtesy of Angelo Battaglia, features an adult Western Reef Heron sitting on the nest on May 5, 2005, in the mixed heron colony of the De Pinedo Reserve near Caorso, Piacenza, N Italy.

Western Reef Heron, Punta Barene, NE Italy, 30 Dec 2004, photo courtesy of Stefano Sava 

11:51 - Monday, August 14, 2006 - post comment