Great White Heron
p.1 #1Great White Heron
I follow ebird and a few other Facebook pages as well. There were multiple sighting of a Great Blue (Great White) Heron in Southern Maine. This bird does not belong here. Although it was raining, I decided to see if I could find it and I did. It is a really big bird. I thought I was looking at an Egret but there are some differences including that it flew up to the dock within 20' of me twice. After I got home, I dropped the photos in Merlin and Ebird for confirmation I couldn't be happier.
Sep 11, 2026 at 08:54 AM
p.1 #3Great White Heron
Nice work tracking that bird down! You got some really nice looks at it too. Well done.
Eric
Eric
Sep 11, 2026 at 02:19 PM
p.1 #4Great White Heron
Nice work Tammy ! I miss these guys as we don’t have them here .
Birdie
Birdie
Sep 11, 2026 at 03:41 PM
p.1 #5Great White Heron
Congrats, Tammy, always nice to have such surprises!
Douglas
Douglas
Sep 12, 2026 at 04:45 AM
p.1 #6Great White Heron
Thanks for documenting to FM, this visiting vagrant . Very unusual!
During the years I was a wildlife biologist in the Everglades north of Tamiami Trail. I spent most weekends in ENP to Flamingo.
I concluded that GWH stay in extreme southern Everglades. In fact I never saw one on the Glades north of Tamiam trail and I was on the marsh every day, all day.
It is interesting that you picked up on the significace of the GWH vs Great Egret behavior. You are right. So, I decided to post a related image of a GWH very close to me at Mrzek Pond ...... with an explanation.
Robert
During the years I was a wildlife biologist in the Everglades north of Tamiami Trail. I spent most weekends in ENP to Flamingo.
I concluded that GWH stay in extreme southern Everglades. In fact I never saw one on the Glades north of Tamiam trail and I was on the marsh every day, all day.
It is interesting that you picked up on the significace of the GWH vs Great Egret behavior. You are right. So, I decided to post a related image of a GWH very close to me at Mrzek Pond ...... with an explanation.
Robert
Sep 12, 2026 at 09:04 AM
p.1 #7Great White Heron
johnohio wrote:
A super find. A first for me. Well done.
John
We had one of our own at Conneaut Harbor around 2017 or 2018!
Great shots, btw. Glad you got to see it!
A super find. A first for me. Well done.
John
We had one of our own at Conneaut Harbor around 2017 or 2018!
Great shots, btw. Glad you got to see it!
Sep 13, 2026 at 03:47 AM
p.1 #9Great White Heron
johnohio wrote:
A super find. A first for me. Well done.
John
Thank you!
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Erictator wrote:
Nice work tracking that bird down! You got some really nice looks at it too. Well done.
Eric
Thank you!
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birdied wrote:
Nice work Tammy ! I miss these guys as we don’t have them here .
Birdie
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douter wrote:
Congrats, Tammy, always nice to have such surprises!
Douglas
Thanks Douglas!
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bs kite wrote:
Thanks for documenting to FM, this visiting vagrant . Very unusual!
During the years I was a wildlife biologist in the Everglades north of Tamiami Trail. I spent most weekends in ENP to Flamingo.
I concluded that GWH stay in extreme southern Everglades. In fact I never saw one on the Glades north of Tamiam trail and I was on the marsh every day, all day.
It is interesting that you picked up on the significace of the GWH vs Great Egret behavior. You are right. So, I decided to post a related image of a GWH very close to...Show more →
They are so cool! Thank you for sharing your story.
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jaredmizanin wrote:
JohnWe had one of our own at Conneaut Harbor around 2017 or 2018!
Great shots, btw. Glad you got to see it!
Thank you John
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Ted ellis wrote:
Well captured Tammy.
Thank you Ted!
A super find. A first for me. Well done.
John
Thank you!
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Erictator wrote:
Nice work tracking that bird down! You got some really nice looks at it too. Well done.
Eric
Thank you!
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birdied wrote:
Nice work Tammy ! I miss these guys as we don’t have them here .
Birdie
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douter wrote:
Congrats, Tammy, always nice to have such surprises!
Douglas
Thanks Douglas!
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bs kite wrote:
Thanks for documenting to FM, this visiting vagrant . Very unusual!
During the years I was a wildlife biologist in the Everglades north of Tamiami Trail. I spent most weekends in ENP to Flamingo.
I concluded that GWH stay in extreme southern Everglades. In fact I never saw one on the Glades north of Tamiam trail and I was on the marsh every day, all day.
It is interesting that you picked up on the significace of the GWH vs Great Egret behavior. You are right. So, I decided to post a related image of a GWH very close to...Show more →
They are so cool! Thank you for sharing your story.
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jaredmizanin wrote:
johnohio wrote
A super find. A first for me. Well done.John
Great shots, btw. Glad you got to see it!
Thank you John
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Ted ellis wrote:
Well captured Tammy.
Thank you Ted!
Sep 14, 2026 at 11:15 AM
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p.1 #10Great White Heron
When I was there looking at this bird a few weeks ago, those of us there figured it’s likely a younger bird, as the bill should be more yellow for an older bird. At the same time this heron materialized there was also a Crested Caracara being seen just a short drive away, this latter bird now seems to be out on Cape Cod!
Sep 20, 2026 at 04:59 PM
p.1 #11Great White Heron
I wonder how it got here Tammy. Great job documenting this migrant in your how town. I wonder what it will do when ice shows up.
Morris
Morris
Sep 21, 2026 at 05:56 AM
p.1 #12Great White Heron
GeofFX wrote:
When I was there looking at this bird a few weeks ago, those of us there figured it’s likely a younger bird, as the bill should be more yellow for an older bird. At the same time this heron materialized there was also a Crested Caracara being seen just a short drive away, this latter bird now seems to be out on Cape Cod!
I tried to find the Crested Caracara as well. I was too late to that party..
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morris wrote:
I wonder how it got here Tammy. Great job documenting this migrant in your how town. I wonder what it will do when ice shows up.
Morris
We have seen a decent amount of of course birds here in the past few years. It is always interesting to figure out where they actually belong.
When I was there looking at this bird a few weeks ago, those of us there figured it’s likely a younger bird, as the bill should be more yellow for an older bird. At the same time this heron materialized there was also a Crested Caracara being seen just a short drive away, this latter bird now seems to be out on Cape Cod!
I tried to find the Crested Caracara as well. I was too late to that party..
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morris wrote:
I wonder how it got here Tammy. Great job documenting this migrant in your how town. I wonder what it will do when ice shows up.
Morris
We have seen a decent amount of of course birds here in the past few years. It is always interesting to figure out where they actually belong.
Sep 21, 2026 at 07:08 AM
p.1 #13Great White Heron
Birds fly north "because they can"... if they want to. Other vertebrates cannot. I think we will all agree that the GWH species is non-migratory. However, there are Vagrants, which decide to journey way outside their species range. That is what our Great White did.
And that is what a Great Black Hawk did in Portland Maine (in 2018?). It arrived in August and settled into the Oak Trees in Deering Oaks. That resulted in its demise: You know Gray Squirrels love acorns. The GBHawk stayed all the way into January and then a lady found it on the ground and took it to a rehab. It never regained the use of it feet.
BACK TO THE GWH: It is northern cold fronts (in Fall) that push migrants South. That Black Hawk probably would have headed south if it had not found an abundance of Gray Squirrels.
Maybe our GWH will not make it. But maybe it will. I believe it will. I carry a small pair of 7X binocs in my truck. Yesterday (Sep 20, 2026) in the Portand Maine area I spotted 2 Great Egrets flying high and southeasterly. Portland is roughly 20 miles NORTH of where TammyB first spotted the GWH. I hope our GWH made it to Cape Cod as GoefFX suggested. I choose to believe it did.
And Morris, I read that you and your wife are home from Alaska now. Would't it be something if you spotted our GBH resting on the sandbar (beach) you frequent?
Rober
Edited on Sep 21, 2026 at 07:43 AM · View previous versions
And that is what a Great Black Hawk did in Portland Maine (in 2018?). It arrived in August and settled into the Oak Trees in Deering Oaks. That resulted in its demise: You know Gray Squirrels love acorns. The GBHawk stayed all the way into January and then a lady found it on the ground and took it to a rehab. It never regained the use of it feet.
BACK TO THE GWH: It is northern cold fronts (in Fall) that push migrants South. That Black Hawk probably would have headed south if it had not found an abundance of Gray Squirrels.
Maybe our GWH will not make it. But maybe it will. I believe it will. I carry a small pair of 7X binocs in my truck. Yesterday (Sep 20, 2026) in the Portand Maine area I spotted 2 Great Egrets flying high and southeasterly. Portland is roughly 20 miles NORTH of where TammyB first spotted the GWH. I hope our GWH made it to Cape Cod as GoefFX suggested. I choose to believe it did.
And Morris, I read that you and your wife are home from Alaska now. Would't it be something if you spotted our GBH resting on the sandbar (beach) you frequent?
Rober
Edited on Sep 21, 2026 at 07:43 AM · View previous versions
Sep 21, 2026 at 07:26 AM
p.1 #14Great White Heron
bs kite wrote:
Birds fly north "because they can"... if they want to. Other vertebrates cannot. I think we will all agree that the GWH species is non-migratory. However, there are Vagrants, which decide to journey way outside their species range. That is what our Great White did.
And that is what a Great Black Hawk did in Portland Maine (2028?). It arrived in August and settled into the Oak Trees in Deering Oaks. That resulted in its demise: You know Gray Squirrels love acorns. The GBHawk stayed all the way into January and then a lady found it on the ground...Show more →
Rober,
I think Geo was referring to the Crested Caracara which I believe is now on the Cape. The GWH is still in Kittery, per Ebird noted sightings yesterday.
Tammy
Birds fly north "because they can"... if they want to. Other vertebrates cannot. I think we will all agree that the GWH species is non-migratory. However, there are Vagrants, which decide to journey way outside their species range. That is what our Great White did.
And that is what a Great Black Hawk did in Portland Maine (2028?). It arrived in August and settled into the Oak Trees in Deering Oaks. That resulted in its demise: You know Gray Squirrels love acorns. The GBHawk stayed all the way into January and then a lady found it on the ground...Show more →
Rober,
I think Geo was referring to the Crested Caracara which I believe is now on the Cape. The GWH is still in Kittery, per Ebird noted sightings yesterday.
Tammy
Sep 21, 2026 at 07:35 AM
p.1 #15Great White Heron
Thank you for clarifying that Tammy. I went back to re-read it
I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalid
Edited on Sep 22, 2026 at 12:05 PM · View previous versions
I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalid
Edited on Sep 22, 2026 at 12:05 PM · View previous versions
Sep 21, 2026 at 09:14 AM
p.1 #16Great White Heron
bs kite wrote:
Thank you for clarifying that Tammy.
I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalid
I signed up for an account and the daily alerts. It sends a list of different birds and sightings.
Thank you for clarifying that Tammy.
I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalid
I signed up for an account and the daily alerts. It sends a list of different birds and sightings.
Sep 21, 2026 at 09:26 AM
p.1 #17Great White Heron
TammyB wrote:
I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalidI signed up for an account and the daily alerts. It sends a list of different birds and sightings.
I would love to get daily alerts. Most helpful. But they cannot help me if I cannot open the link in the first place.
Robert
I got in I think.
bs kite wrote
Thank you for clarifying that Tammy.I am confused. Please help.
I searched in ebird.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S393147138?continue
I do not normally use it. I got a checklist. What does that mean?
Now I see that it says the link is invalid
I would love to get daily alerts. Most helpful. But they cannot help me if I cannot open the link in the first place.
Robert
I got in I think.
Sep 21, 2026 at 11:45 AM