The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Today and yesterday (this may also be the same bird present since at least 6 Dec), there has been a strange egret just north of Grainthorpe Haven, on the saltmarsh with Little Egrets.

It is quite obviously 'different' when you see it, but we have been unable to find an available species to ascribe it to, except Little Egret. It is smaller and shorter necked than the Little Egrets around it (which constantly bully it), it has a beige crown, lower belly and (?) secondary coverts, and green legs.

We think this bird deserves a better look by more people, and maybe we could have some photographs? (We don't really have the equipment to photograph such a distant bird).

Also there, Spotted Redshank and Lapland Bunting over.

Bill and Steve Meek

Can you suggest the best place to park? Also a grid ref for the bird if possible.
Thanks
Geoff

Yes - leave the coast road at the S-bend south of Marshchapel, drive towards the sea and park at the seawall at Grainthorpe Haven TA394007. (The road is the one where the Steppe Grey Shrike was).

Climb onto the sea wall and look north. There are usually several Little Egrets on the saltmarsh but they're not all visible at once because they tend to disappear into creeks. They're generally quite mobile and we didn't have to wait long for the weird egret to pop up.

Bill

Could it be the juvenile Little Blue Heron last seen in Ireland and poss Wales in October 2008?

http://www.birdguides.com/pictures/default.asp?f=182681



Little Blue Heron at Letterfrack, Galway 06/10/08 (uploaded 06/10/08) copyright - Nic Hallam

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

It doesn't look like the same bird. Although always rather distant, this bird definitely has a buff crown, buff lower belly and carpal bars, but apparently (a better view is required!) uniformly dark or darkish lores and bill base. The legs seem yellowish-olive in bright sunshine, but look darker on the ground in poor light. It is smaller and seemingly squatter than accompanying Little Egrets, whose company it seems to seek, but which continually bully it.

To be honest, we can't find another species of egret with which this odd bird could sensibly be compared. However, if it is just a Little Egret, it certainly is a strange one!

We definitely need better views; we're hoping a digiscoper out there will get some good pics in the next day or two!

Bill

From the description, it sounds like an odd Little Egret (Little Blue Heron can be safely ruled out)... will be interesting to see photos.

Many of the Little Egrets down this way have got buff crowns and mantles. I presume it comes from when they preen themselves with rusty water. Similar thing can happens to swans.

I managed to get a bit of video footage of the bird this morning. The light was not good and the bird was not close but at least there is now something to look at and discuss.
One comment to add to those already made is that Barry Clarkson said the bird had a red eye. I did not see this myself as I spent most of my time looking through the viewfinder of the video camera.
I will put some grabs in the album.

Roy

Absolutely tremendous Roy!

In addition, Barry Clarkson permits me to quote him thus:

'small/variant Little Egret with olive-grey legs/feet, short grey bill, grey-olive lores. Tawny brown-buff could be staining from oxidisation from dyke nearby. Or? If it's not staining then it's a first and should be marked up as a possible pitfall for Cattle or Squacco on a poor view'.

Personally I would just say that whilst the markings may well be staining they are nevertheless very symmetrical, and am I right in the impression that one of Roy's grabs in particular reinforces the impression of a very short, thick neck for a Little Egret? In field views it is certainly more squat than accompanying birds.

Bill

I am of the opinion that the buff colouring is probably not from staining.
All of the other Little Egrets at Grainthorpe are pure white and I cannot believe that just one would be stained.
Unlike swans, Egrets spend very litle time with their heads totally immersed in water, there is also the fact that the water level in the adjacent dyke is very high and no Egrets were seen to be feeding in it.

Also seen at Grainthorpe- Pyes Hall today;

1 male Hen Harrier
1 Merlin
2 Short-eared Owls

Roy.

With Barry Clarkson this morning. We discussed the staining and from the (rare) clear views we had of the bird, the 'staining' was too subtle and as Bill commented earlier, too symmetrical.
My personal observations were that the bird was very much smaller than a little egret, and the bill was shorter and thicker. BC has some good photos, which hopefully will appear on this forum at some point.

Geoff

Grainthorpe Mystery Egret

Having now seen the photos posted on the album (one reproduced below) and read the decription about markings/leg colour/eye colour/head structure/bird small (runt) size and the hassle it gets from other Little Egrets, I have to say that there MUST be some Cattle Egret genes in that Egret? It must be a Cattle x Little Hybrid???



Image 1. Egret sp - Grainthorpe Jan 2009 (Copyright Roy Harvey)



Image 2. Little Egret - Tetney Jan 2006 (Copyright Dave Bradbeer)



Andrew

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

If anyone can find a picture of a Cattle Egret with buff on the wing coverts, i'd love to see it. Cattle Egrets have the buff colouration in breeding plumage (not usually january, but could be developing - but on a hybrid??!!), but only on their crown, nape, mantle and breast. Even the far eastern race coramandus doesn't have buff coverts.
See this: http://i.pbase.com/u27/dougj/upload/165 ... _4346P.jpg

A little bit of buff on the crown of this January bird, but still no buff on the coverts.
http://www.birdsireland.com/images/2008 ... gret01.jpg

I havn't seen this bird, so can only comment from the pictures, but why is everyone looking for a fantastic answer when variation in Little Egret ticks all the boxes?

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=129175

This thread on birdforum might be of interest, especially post # 5.