This morning i recieved a phone call from a someone who had seen a unusual heron and wanted me to check it,off a night shift dazed,offt i trot to find a a black heron in a deep ditch along the road side,(black bank road)near east butterwick,it has some grey markings ,particulalary on the wing,and throat,but most black,the case is still open,but my best hunch is Partially Melanistic Grey heron. This bird was not as weary as a grey,more tame. Roy harvey has some decent footage/shots thankfully. More will be said no doubt.Note see:http://www.birdforum.net/archive/index.php/t-26152.html In Richard Millingtons book"a twitchers diary there is an excellent drawing of one,just like the one today.a book ive had for years!. Regards,see;below if link does not work,
Click here to go to the home page and find out more. | Click here to join. Welcome to BirdForum. BirdForum is the net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE! You are most welcome to register for an account, which allows you to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Thread Tools Rate Thread
Monday 15th November 2004, 14:08 #1 Eagle Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Isleworth, Middlesex Posts: 1,499 Black - Grey Heron??????
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's one for you very clever people! Just looked at John Butlers website....Donana Bird Tours
Trip report 11/11/04 Northern Marshes
"Spotted a heron sized bird, completely black. The size, beak, shape, build, stance,and everything else pointed to a Grey Heron except the colour- black as a Black Stork.Any suggestions?"
So what do you think????????
Monday 15th November 2004, 14:12 #2 Bluetail Senior Moment
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Plymouth, Devon Posts: 6,409 I've never seen one myself, but melanistic Grey Herons do happen. I think Richard Millington mentions one in his book A Twicher's Diary that was reported as a Black Heron and turned out to be precisely that - a black Grey Heron. __________________
Roger.
Last edited by Roger Hebb on Mon Nov 09, 2009 6:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
|