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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> Bird Identification 鳥類辨識 >>  ID help for non HK birder
        
(Message started by: Mai_Po_Office on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 11:37am)

Title: ID help for non HK birder
Post by Mai_Po_Office on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 11:37am

An international birder visited Mai Po early in September and has asked for help with this observation. He is not a BBS member, but does access the site regularly so he will receive your reply.

Observation
Tower hide sunset/dusk Sunday 03 Sept saw a night heron suddenly fly out from trees at left to land on grassy patch where it stayed for several minutes preening etc. before flying across to trees/swamp. It was too distant on the grass for me to see detail clearly, no scope only binocs (also low light) but it was a rather uniformly dark bird with smallish area of rusty wash on side of neck and short bill. I did not have a bird-book with me in the hide, but got the distinct impression it was a Gorsachius-type night heron (I have seen one other sp of the genus in Africa). In flight the bird was almost uniformly dark above with only marginally paler coverts and a maroon-purplish hue discerned on the wings. Below appeared pretty dark and dark legs(?). Heavy dark mesial streak. No vocalisation, though common night-herons flying by were vocalizing at the time (unfortunately none came close enough to give useful size comparison (the bird was night-heron size, perhaps on the small side, but nothing like a small bittern, and beak short). No sign of spotting anywhere dorsally. Showed a faint dark cap effect.

On checking books later, came to conclusion probably a 2nd year immature Japanese Night-heron. Did not see yellow face patch but I did not then know to look for it and immature in any case may not show it clearly. Definitely no white along the wing trailing edge, and no crest visible, also not black enough cap for Malayan. Colour would conform more to an (imm/sub-ad??) Japanese. Rufous neck area not as extensive as shown in books for adults, narrower and relatively faint in the light conditions, but clearly discernible.

I hope some other knowledgeable birders may confirm these, if not already the case. Which species it is may be debatable. I have no access to any handbooks here with really adequate immature plumage descriptions.

Bena Smith
WWF Reserve Officer

Title: Re: ID help for non HK birder
Post by Paul Leader on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 9:56pm

Sounds like a Little Green Heron to me.

Title: Re: ID help for non HK birder
Post by pippenho on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 10:53pm

;)Should be look like this one.
Mai Po
23/09/2006
http://images4.fotop.net/albums2/pippenho/Striated_Heron/GF2V1564b.jpg