Heron - Galapagos (1 Viewer)

[jmmorton]

I found this Heron on a lagoon on the Island of Floreana in the Galapagos on 25th May 2018. It was across the far side of a lagoon and even with a 600mm lens it is still small in the picture. I've attached a couple of heavily cropped images. Apologies in advance for the poor quality.

I'm finding it hard to agree with what the guide was telling me and I have an idea of what I think it is but wanted to ask the experts on this forum. TIA.

Cheers
Jonno

 

[Nutcracker]

Tricolored Heron.

No idea what their status on Galapagos is.

 

[jmmorton]

Thanks Nutcracker, that was my thoughts. The guide said it was a young Great Blue Heron. My field guide says it is a "doubtful accidental with an undocumented record only"

 

[Nutcracker]

Well worth submitting this one then!

 

[njlarsen]

Disclaimer: I do not know if there is a separate form of GBH on Galapagos and if they might differ in how they look from other GBH (and I do not currently have access to my Galapagos field guide). Having stated that, I also feel this is most likely a Tricolored H

Niels

 

[Microtus]

Here's an accepted eBird report of a/the Tricolored Heron on Isla Floreana from April 15 of this year.

 

[Maffong]

Yes, this is a Tricoloured Heron and it's a vagrant to Galapagos. I don't know how many records there are, but I'm sure it's worth submitting to the Ecuadorian ornithological records committee (CERO).
The Great Blue Herons on Galapagos don't differ much from the birds in North America and are easily recognised

Maffong

 

[jmmorton]

Thanks everyone for the feedback and advice. I was pretty sure it was a Tricolored Heron and couldn't see what else it could be. There is an endemic race of GBH on Galapagos but it looks pretty much the same as the ones I've seen in N America and the Caribbean.

I will submit the report to CERO as suggested. It is likely to be the same bird seen in April.

Cheers
Jonno