The proximity and acceptance of this bird allowed me to observe the bare part features of this non-breeding Little Egret (Egretta garzetta garzetta). The close up image has been minimally processed. Note that while the bill is predominantly black, the proximal half of the lower mandible is a pale white-pink. Wells (1999) says “bill entirely black or with extreme base of lower mandible pale yellow or bluish white”. The IUCN-SCC Heron Specialist Group says “Its bill is ….usually shiny and sometimes with a bit of yellow at base of lower bill”. The bird I was watching had hardly any plumes and was largely in non-breeding plumage. I suspect there may be much individual variation for this feature. The ring around the eye is pale blue-yellow. The lores are a dirty grey-yellow.
The IUCN-SCC Heron Specialist Group. Heron Conservation: Chinese Pond-heron (available here: https://www.heronconservation.org/herons-of-the-world/list-of-herons/little-egret)
Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Location: Wetlands, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Extensive ex-tin mining area with pond/lakes, wetlands
Date: 24th February 2020
Equipment: Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Nikon AF-S Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR, handheld with Rode VideoMic Pro Plus Shotgun Microphone
