Posted by Gary Potter (198.81.17.22) on June 04, 2002 at 22:17:45:
This looks like a Reddish Egret to me. The Bill looks rather straight, and the bill of Little-blue Heron seems to have a very slight droop. Also the Contrast in the bill with the dark tip is better for Reddish Egret. The legs seem a little light, better for Little-Blue, perhaps, but this bird is in nonbreeding plumage, and I think the legs of Reddish Egret are lighter in the winter. The light at the base of the bill shows too much contrast for Little Blue, except in its whitish juvenile plumage, whidh obviously does not fit this bird. Another point which may be a bit of a stretch based on a single photograph, but this bird looks like its legs are moving through the water pretty fast, leaving a wake, typical of Reddish Egret, and unlike the slow deliberate movements of Little Blue Heron. This bird also looks big (now that's a stupid statement with nothing to compare it to), but I think most of what I see in this photo adds up to Reddish Egret rather than Little Blue Heron.