This species is also known as the Pacific Reef Egret (OBC, Robson) but here I follow Clements which calls it Pacific Reef-Heron (IOC goes with Reef Heron without the hyphen). It occurs in both a dark morph as seen here, and also a white morph which bears a resemblance to the Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes). On our visit we only saw dark morph birds which foraged by stalking along the inter-tidal rocks.
Two races are recognized. This is the widespread nominate race. Another larger race with a darker bill is confined to New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands.
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LX5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA |hand-held (no adapter).