CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae

Ardea sumatrana  

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)
click photo for larger image
© Kay Parkin 2013
Darwin, NT (Jul, 2013)

On a two-hour boat trip in the Darwin Harbour I was amazed to see this rare and elusive bird fly majestically past.

Its prehistoric look and heavy slow flight had me in awe as I frantically fired off a few photos before it was gone!

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Juvenile Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Juvenile Great-billed Heron

Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana)

Juvenile Great-billed Heron