I had a possible Snowy Egret in flight this evening as I was leaving the Agassiz Valley Watershed Impoundment (adjacent to the Agassiz Valley Audubon Center in Polk County). The bird was with a group of 8 Great Egrets, had no visible yellow or blue patches (for Cattle Egret or Little Blue Heron). The feet and a little of the legs were yellow. Distant and poorly lit pictures below. These have been cropped and blown up. Let me know if you want the originals. Hopefully everyone can see enough of the size and proportions of the bird to come to a consensus. Note: clicking Slideshow will make the images a little bigger http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/203 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/202 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/201 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/200 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/199 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/198 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/197 http://williamhblackburniibirding.shutterfly.com/pictures/196 I personally ID'ed it as a Snowy in the field, but grabbed my camera to take pictures instead of confirming the id. Feel free to correct me if you disagree. Personally I think the proportions of the bill and body are off for Cattle Egret and I believe that by May Little Blue Herons should be showing some splotching. Leg color was also off for Little Blue Heron. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. If I'm reading the checklist correctly, all three of those species would be great for Marshall County in May. Other interesting species seen recently: 4/30/13 COMMON REDPOLL 1 Agassiz Audubon Nature Center (Polk County) TRUMPETER SWAN 1+ Agassiz Audubon Nature Center (Polk County. Calling. Flew into Marshall County with a group of Tundra Swans) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 3 Agassiz Audubon Nature Center (Polk County. Flew into Marshall County) HERMIT THRUSH 4 Agassiz Audubon Nature Center (Polk County) 5/1/13 BOHEMIAN WAXWING 10-15 Downtown Warren, MN (Marshall County) Very late? WILLET 2 Agassiz Valley Impoundment (Marshall County) EARED GREBE 1 Agassiz Valley Impoundment (Marshall County) WESTERN GREBE ~10-15 Agassiz Valley Impoundment (Polk and Marshall Counties) A note on the Bohemians. They were viewed at eye level in a bare bush from across the street (sidewalk to sidewalk). Larger than Cedars, extensive white on the wings, red under-tail coverts. My started reaction and then hasty attempts to get my camera out flared them. Hopefully I can find them again tomorrow morning. Aren't these guys a month late in leaving? Bill Blackburn Minnesota Audubon Warren, MN ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html