Checklist S219693851
Sharing links
Totals
Observations
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 9
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 1
Media
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Number observed: 7
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 2
Details
Seen flying past the twin sycamores where they’ve nested in the past.
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 6
Media
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 4
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Number observed: 3
Media
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 17
Media
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Number observed: 3
Media
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Number observed: 6
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 9
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Number observed: 7
Media
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Number observed: 14
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Number observed: 6
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Number observed: 4
Media
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 3
Media
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 2
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Number observed: 8
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 1
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 3
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Number observed: 3
Details
Adult rare heron in an unlikely location for any heron, especially this species inland. While observing an unobstructed view area of the creek with rocky banks (35.4254990, -120.7481773) we began watching a Steller’s Jay hopping along the creek bottom from sticks to sticks about twenty-five yards away. It was then the jay startled a small blue heron we hadn’t seen standing back from the bank. The heron took off, letting out some shortish nasally calls—not scratchy like a great blue, nor squeaky or kak-ish like a green heron. We first had a side view, then it banked to its right up to eye level, and then turned right again and flew northward along the creek. While it first banked it flew away from us before turning, and so we were able to see its short tail and white undertail, and when it turned north we were able to see its white flanks and belly, and snow-white on large portions of its otherwise blue underwings. We searched the creek back toward the lower lot twice—much of those creek views were obstructed. The bird, at our first thought, because of the side view, and because I was just talking about once seeing a great blue heron near this spot, resembled a Great Blue, but in miniature form. But that quickly gave way as this was a more striking deep blue plumage, and not dull like a great blue—and was also striking blue on nearly its entire head, cheeks, wings and back—and had a white underside that once again, we spotted briefly, and overall had no grey, no streaking, and in its leaping into the air and flight views, had no red or purplish, no crown coloration differing from its blue cheeks. Didn’t get good looks at the front of its long throat, though its chin was pale. The legs were bright yellow, which were the fieldmarks that threw us, because it wasn’t a green heron either, and the yellow was too bright anyway, and so it was then we also realized that this small heron (much larger than a green heron but still only half the size of a great blue) was a tricolored. The bill, we recall, was dark with some yellow toward the base, though neither recall specifics about colorations around the eye. We searched what we could of the creek, searching for vantage points, but had no luck refinding. Though we watched the bird for ten or so seconds, would not have had time to turn on camera and get a shot and so chose to observe the bird rather than make an attempt with pics unless relocated. I will upload a pic of the location so that the open view of the creek can be seen.