This afternoon (starting at 2:45 pm), while birding Rattray Marsh, I
found a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron resting along the edge of
the cattails in the eastern part of marsh. I studied it for about 15
minutes with 30x scope at a distance of 200' when it moved back into
the cattails and out of sight. I am familiar with both adult and
juvenile YCNHs because they common birds on the marshes along the
KIssimmee, Florida waterfront park where I spend December each year.
I texted Bradley Boemendal: after he arrived we spent an hour and half
searching for it with no luck including a search of the lower part of
Sheridan Creek over to the first bridge up from the lake. We left at
5:15 pm. The juvenile had the following diagnostic field marks
separating it from the juvenile BCNH: longer legs; all dark gray/black
bill; overall much darker brown body with fine cream color spots and
white edges on coverts. The primaries were also much darker than
those of BCNH. Based on the weather forecast for tonight and
tomorrow this heron will not likely go anywhere soon.
Directions:
Park at the south end of Bexhill which runs south of Lakeshore
Boulevard West between Southdown Road and Mississauga Road. Proceed
down the hill and turn left and continue down to the lake, then walk
the beach to the outlet of Sheridan Creek and scope the marsh.
Wayne Renaud (289-828-0043)
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
