Great White Heron

[Stan Bentley]

Thanks to the recent posting by Tom and Laverne Hunter of Lebanon in Russell County, I was able to locate the great white heron along the Clinch River east of Blackford. Their indication was that they saw the bird from Clifton Farm Road (Rt. 640) near the confluence of the Clinch and Little Rivers. However, I was unable to locate the bird in that area. I went back to Blackford and crossed the Clinch RiIver on Rt. 18 and immediately turned right onto Rt. 641. I went all the way to where the Clinch and Little Rivers join - but this time on the north side of the Clinch River. Then I located the bird about one-tenth (1/10) mile upstream on the Clinch River. Although the bird generally stayed in the brush along the river, I was able to get excellent views. Thanks. It's a rare treat for southwest Virginia and almost exactly a year since Mark Mullins found a great white on Claytor Lake. Here are some photos.

Stan Bentley

Pulaski, VA

[Liz Day]

Huh? I thought this type of heron was found only in Florida, or at least along the Gulf Coast. Has this changed?

thanks,
Liz
(Indiana)