Blue Heron

[MichaelW]

I took this photo sunday at the coast. I think this is a blue Heron but after looking at him a while I am not sure. Different that any other I have ever seen. Brown on the body, a hint of reddish brown on the neck. I never could get a shot from the other side to see what that was sticking below his chin. To me he looks like he has been around for a while. The second shot is a red Egret.

[GSM]

the first one is a great blue heron. second looks like a reddish egret not sure.

[houtex01]

Nice captures Michael...also curious as to what is sticking out below the chin in the first one...

Ron

[onlybill]

Great Blue Heron and Reddish Egret.
The thing sticking below is the bird's tongue. This is due to an injury to the membrane at the underside of the bill which created a hole that allowed the tongue (which is pointed) to fall through, and there is no way that it can be retracted. I've seen this before, with at least one GBH, but usually terns. I observed the GBH with the afliction on a number of occasions feeding normally, so I don't think it life threatening. regards~onlybill

my 2010-2011 TPF slideshow

[MichaelW]

Thanks everyone. William is it common for a GBH to have that much reddish brown on it body. Never seen one like that before. Strange about tongue. I thought it was some kind of stick or thorn. Again thanks

[onlybill]

Michael; the reddish brown on the upper legs, and the front of the wing are standard adult GBH coloration. Younger birds are mostly gray. regards~Cill

[lhdvies]

nice work-really like the RE!!

[David Alaniz]

That is interesting about the tongue, never would have thought they could survive.