Purple Heron..?

[TWarden]

Hi there,

I was on the bus on the way into work this morning (past the River Irwell in Salford, Manchester, of all places) when I noticed a bird that, for the life of me, I cannot think was anything other than a Purple Heron. However it was very early in the morning, and there's just a chance that I might be going crazy!

The first thing to say was that, in flight (as I saw it, flying low and slow over the water), it was distinctly heron-like - it had long, broad wings and carried its legs well behind its body. So far, so grey heron. But a few things bothered me:
- it seemed too small to be a grey heron
- the plumage was very dark (dare I say, dark brown-purple..?!) and uniform on the upperwing and back, not pale grey or white as you would expect with a grey heron
- the bill was noticeably yellow against the dark plumage.

Sadly I didn't get a photo or any more detail.

Could anyone please advise me on the likelihood of this? Is it possible, or about as likely as seeing a polar bear in my back garden?!

Many thanks for your help! Tom

[Agrotis]

Could this be yet another Glossy Ibis?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Not impossible, but Purple Herons are more or less the same size as Grey Herons.
They are also more or less associated wholly with reedbeds and not other open aquatic habitats like Grey Herons. I would say what you saw was probably one of this year's young Grey Herons that can appear brownish.

Cheers,

Adam

[TWarden]

Thanks, think I will put this one down to my overactive imagination..!