Are these Egretta garzetta?

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi

Something I'm a little confused about with the first pic is why it has black as opposed to yellow feet. I'm also amazed at the appetite of number three with its huge Nile perch!

All seen on the Nile in Luxor.

Cheers:puzzled:

Jacqueline

[Neil Morris]

I'd agree that image 2 is certainly a Little Egret (garzetta), as most likely are 1 and 3 (albeit 1 is a rather water-soiled bird). Hope this helps.

[Colin Key]

Two questions before I give my I.D. Jacqueline:

1. What time of year were these taken?

2. Is your impression of lack of yellow feet based on photo #1 or did you actually make that observation in the field?

Colin

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi Colin

Sorry, I forget to mention the time of year. It was mid-February.

Re: the bird in flight, the photo was taken in rapidly fading light and the feet also looked black or a least dark to me. Although it was nearly a year ago and before my birding fascination began, I remember it clearly as the colour of the feet promted to buy 'Common Birds of Egypt' which only covers a limited number of species with illustrations and was of no help on that occasion.

These pix were in the first batch of bird photographs I ever took.

Jacqueline

[Colin Key]

Hi Jacqueline,

Always difficult to judge size on photos of single birds, but there was an impression that these might be on the "bulky" side for Little Egret, and the kink in the neck of the bird in photo 2 sort of suggested Great Egret.

However, in February E. alba would not have an all black bill so we must accept these as E. garzetta. The apparent lack of yellow feet in photo 1 is either due to the light (they are in heavy shadow) and/or the bird had been feeding in black mud and simply had "dirty feet" (something I have often witnessed).

Colin

[AndyB]

I'd agree these all look like Little Egrets

[Jacqueline Burrell]

At what time of the year does E. alba not have an all black bill and why? What about juveniles?

Cheers

Jacqueline

[Neil Morris]

Hi Jacqueline,

Further to my previous reply, I've attached a couple of pics of Reef Heron (E. gularis) taken in Egypt in December. Above all other differences, the yellowish-green lores are a key feature. Outside breeding season, Little Egret has bluish-grey lores.

None of the birds you photographed were Great Egret - jizz, bare part structure and colour, etc. eliminate this. So stick with Little Egret. Cheers,

[Colin Key]

At what time of the year does E. alba not have an all black bill and why? What about juveniles?

Cheers

Jacqueline

Bill colour on E. alba changes quite drammatically from winter to breeding plumage. In late March I have seen this species with an almost all-black bill (although if you are close enough and in good light the pistachio-green lores are just about visible) but in winter it is straw yellow in colour. Have to admit I have never seen a juvenile Great Egret.

Colin

P.S. Just as an afterthought, we have in the Algarve regular sightings of some VERY peculiar egrets to which a specific name cannot be applied; interbreeding is implied.

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Hi

Thank you all for your help. A birding beginner suffers a huge learning curve and Surfbirds is a great way to find out what to look for.

Cheers:smile:

Jacqueline