Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea), Hart Mine Marsh, Cibola NWR, La Paz County

This Little Blue Heron was discovered by David Vander Pluym and Lauren Harter on 05 June 2011 and photographed by David Vander Pluym on 05 June 2011.

Casual visitor to the Lower Colorado River Valley in Arizona.  Most Arizona records are in late spring or summer. 

This bird is in the distinctive second year "Calico" plumage. Blotchy blue-gray on the head and neck as well as on the back and wings.  In the field the blue gray was darkest on the crown and the bird had a single white plume. Thick dagger bill, that is bicolored. Dark legs.

05 June 2011, photo by David Vander Pluym