Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

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MtnAg08
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Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by MtnAg08 »

Was in NOLA over this past weekend for a funeral. I did get on the levee at Lake Pontchartrain one evening and one morning to look for a few birds. First time on the water since starting the hobby this weekend and looking for some help with a few birds. I think one is a Killdeer. The one in silhouette I'm guessing is some type of cormorant. Not sure it's identifiable in this picture. There's also a duck I'm not sure of, one I think is a small blue heron but maybe a reddish egret? One last one that is something in the heron family but I can't find any pictures online that I feel completely match. Thanks for yalls help!
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Marilynne
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by Marilynne »

1 - ?
2 - Little Blue Heron (?)
3 - Killdeer
4 - Anhinga
5 - Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron
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The Bird Nuts
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by The Bird Nuts »

Marilynne wrote: Thu Aug 27, 2026 2:31 pm 1 - ?
2 - Little Blue Heron (?)
3 - Killdeer
4 - Anhinga
5 - Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron
1 is a Lesser Scaup, I believe. The rest of your IDs look good.
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MtnAg08
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by MtnAg08 »

Thanks for the help. The anhinga makes sense. I saw two the next morning in that area when I saw more than just a silhouetted shadow. The YCNH being a juvenile also clears that up. I thought it looked sort of like the pictures but wasn't quite right. All the pictures I saw were full adults so that's why it was a little off.
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by Marilynne »

The Bird Nuts wrote: Fri Aug 28, 2026 1:39 am
Marilynne wrote: Thu Aug 27, 2026 2:31 pm 1 - ?
2 - Little Blue Heron (?)
3 - Killdeer
4 - Anhinga
5 - Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron
1 is a Lesser Scaup, I believe. The rest of your IDs look good.
I've only seen the Lesser Scaup once and that was a very, very long time ago.
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The Bird Nuts
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by The Bird Nuts »

I think the night heron would be considered an immature, since it is not in juvenile plumage nor is it in adult plumage.
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Re: Birds on Lake Pontchartrain

Post by Charlie Spencer »

The pointy daggerlike bill on the Anhinga helps separate it from corms, which are hooked-billed.

The greenish legs and dark-blue-to-light-blue bill say Little Blue vs the Reddish blue legs and black-to-pink bill.

Nice shots!
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