What Bird Is That Forum

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!

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.

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.

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.

I think the night heron would be considered an immature, since it is not in juvenile plumage nor is it in adult plumage.

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!