OC Birder Girl: The Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns of Orange County

Great Blue Heron--Ardea herodias at Central Park in Huntington Beach

Great Blue Heron Length 46" Wing Span 72"

Great Egret--Ardea alba at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Notice the large orange bill and black legs. Great Egret Length 39" Wing Span 51"

Snowy Egret--Egretta thula at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Notice the black bill and yellow feet. Snowy Egret Length 24" Wing Span 41"

Black-crowned Night Heron--Nycticorax nycticorax --Adult--at
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Black-Crowned Night Heron Length 25" Wing Span 44"

Black-crowned Night Heron--Nycticorax nycticorax--Immature--at Central Park in Huntington Beach Black-Crowned Night Heron Length 25" Wing Span 44"

Black-crowned Night Heron--Nycticorax nycticorax--Juvenile--at El Dorado Nature Center --Black-Crowned Night Heron Length 25" Wing Span 44"

Green Heron--Butorides virescens --Adult--at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary

Green Egret Length 18" Wing Span 26"

Green Heron--Butorides virescens Immature at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Green Egret Length 18" Wing Span 26"

Rare Orange County Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Reddish Egret--A Rare Bird at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Length 30" and Wingspan 46"

Cattle Egret photo Courtesty of US Fish and Wildlife Serve. Notice the orange bill and black legs. Buffy hightlights in breeding plumage. Cattle Egret Length 20" Wing Span 36" Photographer Lee Karney.