Date: 9/30/25 9:42 am From: Russell Benedict <BenedictR...> Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Help with large light colored bird at Oak Grove beach
Yes!! I win!! That never happens. But there are lots of great egrets here now. From what I hear, once the breeding birds to our south are done with the nesting season, they wander far and wide. The shallow water around Lake Red Rock right now is loaded with Great Egrets (probably a couple other species there as well). Russ from Pella / Knoxville.
Russ Benedict
Professor of Biology
Director of Prairies For Agriculture Project
Department of Biology, Central College
812 University Street | Campus Box 09 | Pella, Iowa 50219
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From: Jill Armentrout <sammiesibemom...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 9:17 AM
To: <ia-bird...> <ia-bird...>
Cc: Russell Benedict <BenedictR...>
Subject: Re: [ia-bird] Help with large light colored bird at Oak Grove beach
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So, Russ I believe you are probably right. Thanks everybody!
JILL
On Sep 29, 2025, at 10:39 AM, Jerry Toll <carolnhattie...> wrote:
Jill, it could still be a Bald Eagle. In their first 3 years of life they have different plumage. Their 4th & 5th years they look more like an adult Bald Eagle. Their second year plumage, when seen below, shows a lot of white but has also a mix of contrasting browns and black peppering. It shouldn't show long legs or neck but the beak should be very obvious. Good luck!
Jerry Toll
On Mon, Sep 29, 2025, 10:08 AM Russell Benedict <BenedictR...><mailto:<BenedictR...>> wrote:
Great Egret??
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From: 'Jill Armentrout' via IA-BIRD <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...>> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2025 8:53 AM
To: <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...> <ia-bird...><mailto:<ia-bird...>> Subject: [ia-bird] Help with large light colored bird at Oak Grove beach
Caution: The e-mail below is from an external source to Central College. Please do not open attachments or click links from an unknown or suspicious origin. Report suspected phishing emails using the “Phishing Alert Report” button.
I was walked the dogs & a huge light colored bird flew. It actually looked like an Eagle & flew like one but wrong color. I looked at large terns but know it wasn’t a Caspian? Any thoughts. Thanks
Sent from Jill’s iPhone.
Des Moines, IA
