IDing a bird near Don River...read on
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IDing a bird near Don River...read on

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mr.sharp-photo

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on: April 30, 2009, 06:49:19 PM
Hope you can help me out.
my fiancee and i were jogging today when we saw a large bird fly over us. we spotted it in a tree later on.

here's the description:

it has a greyish colour.
has legs that makes me think its a water fowl.
it was the size of a huge gull and had a very large wingspan.
looked like a heron when flying, but didn't have what i would guess was a typical heron wing shape.
its face kind of looked like a large version of a mourning dove.
it was roosted in the tree for a few minutes and then gracefully and slowly took off and flew away.

i don't recall seeing this bird before. again, would have guessed it was a heron but didn't look like a GBH or black crowned night heron.

any links to any pictures or any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »

Ron Luft

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Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 09:33:20 AM
I might stay with BCN Heron as likeliest. Angles of view and perceptions can be deceiving. Barring a raptor (Coopers H., Sharpie, Goshawk, Harrier) it's a tough guess. Like the fisherman's story; 'this may be one that got away'.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Ron Luft »
Good spotting! Never leave your bins at home.

GStuart

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Reply #2 on: May 01, 2009, 10:25:56 AM
If it's not a Black-crowned Night-heron (which fits the greyish descriptor), there is also the heron-like American Bittern.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by GStuart »

mr.sharp-photo

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Reply #3 on: May 01, 2009, 11:19:45 AM
Quote from: "GStuart"
If it's not a Black-crowned Night-heron (which fits the greyish descriptor), there is also the heron-like American Bittern.


looked at some pictures online and it definitely looked like the american bittern (but more grey):



thanks!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by mr.sharp-photo »

Brian Bailey

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Reply #4 on: May 02, 2009, 12:41:39 AM
I suspect you saw a first year Black-crowned Night-Heron.  At this time of year they can still look much like a Bittern, but duller.

When I first moved to Toronto, I couldn't believe how many Bitterns I was seeing until I finally realized they were young night-herons.  Since then, I'm not sure if I've ever seen a Bittern in the city.

BB
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Brian Bailey »
Brian Bailey
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cocosally

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Reply #5 on: May 02, 2009, 02:15:46 PM
I have enclosed an immature BCNH, does it look like this one? This is my husband photo album, the immature one does look like Ammerican Bittern (I 1st thought I saw an American Bittern)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91706784@N00/2788639607/
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by cocosally »

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