Great Egret • Bird Accounts • Fraser Valley Birding

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Status in the Checklist Area - (8) Accidental

Information

This large wading bird currently belongs in the same genus as the Great Blue Heron but is a little smaller (and, of course, white). Widespread in the U.S. Typical range in the west is as far north as Oregon. Some migratory movement to as far south as Central America. Feeds on a typical heron diet of mainly fish and amphibians.

Similar species:
Being large and white dramatically limits the number of contenders in determining species. The Snowy Egret, with only one or two records in our area, is similar but quite small in comparison. An albino Great Blue Heron would look similar but would be extremely rare and arguably more of an interesting find than a Great Egret would be.

Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)

Noteworthy Data

Date	Location	Source(s)	Comments
06-September-2010	Chehalis Flats, Harrison Mills	K. Stewart, 2010 T. Cadieux, 2010	Initially two birds were seen on the first day (T. Cadieux, 2010). One was flushed and few downstream while the other remained on the flats. The remaining bird was seen daily until September 14, 2010. Photographed
August 3, 2001	Willband Creek Park, Abbotsford	L. Miller, 2001a	Same bird as June 2001
June, 2001	Abbotsford	L. Miller, 2001
December 25, 1997	Camp River Slough, Chilliwack	G. Gadsden, 1997a	Reported earlier to Denis Knopp. Possibly the same bird as November 30, 1997. Photographed.
November 30, 1997	Agassiz	G. Gadsden, 1997	In slough at the north end of the Agassiz/Rosedale Bridge.
January 12, 1996	Hogan Park, Abbotsford	G. Gadsden, 1996 D. Knopp, 1996	Same bird as below? Photographed.
January 1, 1995	Sumas Prarie, Abbotsford	G. Ryder, 1995	Last reported July 7, 1995 . Photographed.
August 19, 1992	Vedder Canal, Chilliwack	W. Remple, 1992	Two birds reported.

Photographs

Audio and Video

None available

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