Bird Id

Navanboyo

Hi all, I am hoping someone can help me identify a bird I saw today. I do not have any pictures but I hope to go back later in the week as I believe from conversations that these birds have been there all summer.

So what I saw was this. Three large white birds about the same size if not a bit bigger than the grey heron. One was standing still in a river the other two were nearby and I think they must have been in a reed area as they rose into the air when the first one started to fly away.

I only saw the first one in any great detail and as I said it was large with a huge wingspan. It had a long neck with a long yellow beak and it legs were black and i thought maybe tinged with yellow near the bottom. To my amateur eye their flight was ungainly and it seemed to take a great effort to get off the ground although as they gained height they seemed more graceful and appeared to glide as they went away from me.

The area where I came across them is in Louth and it is quite remote. It is farmland surrounded by large wooded areas and there are two rivers that join up on the land. It is rich in wildlife and I have seen the usual suspects such as foxes, badgers and squirrels, but I have also seen Buzzards, Kestrels and a barn owl.

I have seen herons on the river but nothing like these white birds before. I suspect that they are egrets from looking at the forums but the yellow beak would suggest its not the little egret.

Apologies about the lack of information but I do hope to get a picture or two later in the week and if I do I will post them on here.

If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Sounds like Little Egrets. They are quite common in Louth nowadays.

Navanboyo

Thanks Srameen,

Yes I suspect you are right, its just that they were larger than I thought a little egret would be and had a very distinctive yellow beak so I was hoping they might have been something else!

Anyway I will try to get some photos over the weekend.

Thanks again.

OpenYourEyes

Cattle Egret isn't out of the question, but they're much less common in Ireland than little Egrets - a few Cattle Egrets turn up every year, but according to IrishBirding there have been none seen since the end of July. Little Egret seems most likely, but try and get a picture!

DellyBelly

Great White Egret have yellow bills and are bigger than herons but to have 3 in the country would be pretty unique. There is one being reported in Co Down at the moment. If you could get a picture that would really help in iding the bird

ThunderCat

The noise Little Egrets make is pretty unique aswell. I was in St Annes Park in Raheny over the summer and there was one above the treetops calling but it couldn't be seen due to the trees being in the way. It was funny to see all the dog walkers and joggers turning their heads in the direction of the noise and saying out loud "What the hell was that!".

Navanboyo

Ok got back to the same spot this afternoon and saw one bird and it was a little Egret so I expect that was what I saw yesterday as well. Did not get close enough for a photo before it was disturbed and moved away.

I will get a photo and post it at some stage but in the meantime thanks to all who replied, I do appreciate it.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Just keep in mind that you can't post pictures until you have over 50 posts.

Woodville56

ID on this wader anyone please ?
Was thinking Redshamk as legs appear "orange'ish", but appeared to be a bit bulkier/ stocky and no red on bill base ? , phonescoped a few weeks ago but just reviewing pictures now.

Woodville56

:mad:

Woodville56 wrote: »

ID on this wader anyone please ?
Was thinking Redshamk as legs appear "orange'ish", but appeared to be a bit bulkier/ stocky and no red on bill base ? , phonescoped a few weeks ago but just reviewing pictures now.

Further pic of wader here

Edit: on second though maybe redshank after all
?

DellyBelly

Hi,

That is a greenshank. First thing that stands out is the slighly upturned bill. This is not seen on a Redshank.

Regards

Woodville56

Phonescoped these pics today , think they're Knot ? Would be glad of confirmation or otherwise
Thanks !

Capercaille

Woodville56 wrote: »

Phonescoped these pics today , think they're Knot ? Would be glad of confirmation or otherwise
Thanks !

Yes

Tiercel Dave

Yeh, they're definitely Knot birds!