Western Reef-Heron at Calvert Vaux Park in Brooklyn, 7/8/07. The Park, formerly known as Dreier-Offerman Park, is on the Brooklyn waterfront just west and north of the Coney Island Creek outlet: Shore Parkway at 27th Ave. The bird was in the water following the rising tide through the small bay on the east or Coney Island side of the park’s main peninsula around midday. It was associating with a Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron. There was an anecdotal report of this species from South Amboy, NJ on June 30; this is likely the same bird.
There seems to be some uncertainty in the taxonomy of the species, as per this archive from last year’s sightings in NE North America. Sounds like a bird that’s technically a Reef-Heron might “really” be a Little Egret. I’m not sure if there’s a consensus at the moment…
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