The year’s string of great birds continued over the weekend with confirmation of a Reddish Egret at the Platte River bridge crossing south of the Alda I-80 exit. The bird was being seen from the wildlife viewing platform where many people have enjoyed Sandhill Cranes, and the occasional Whooping Crane, over the years. The Reddish Egret was first reported as a Little Blue Heron, which is rare to uncommon in the state, but photos captured on Saturday evening clearly showed it was an adult dark-morph Reddish Egret. A number of birders scrambled out to the location on Sunday and easily relocated the bird. I was one of those people and below are a few of my photos.
Reddish Egrets are typically found along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana as well as coastal areas of central and southern Florida. They do occasionally wander inland and this will actually be the third record for Nebraska based on information from the Birds of Nebraska – Online.
It turning out to be a banner year for rarities. What’s next?
Good birding!
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