At Scioto Audubon MP in Columbus (above Greenlawn Ave) About 5:00 pm - before & after Along the peninsula, about 1/3 to 1/2 way up, there was a white heron or egret hunched down along the shore. The legs were in the water, so I could not see this critical part. The bird seemed somewhat bedraggled. Its feathers were hanging down like streamers being blown by the breeze. It did not wade during the nearly hour I was in the area, so I could not see its legs or posture. The body was entirely white. I could see no hint of color. The beak was 2-tone--orangish below and darker above. It was darkish from the bill to the eyes. Without something to compare it to, it seemed to be somewhat smaller than a Great Blue. It seemed to have a slight crest on the back of its head, but that might have just been the breeze kicking up a few feathers. I am familiar enough with Great Egrets to know it was not one of these, mainly because it's bill was not distinctly yellow. It was too small anyway. Looking through Sibley's Guide these seem like possibilities to consider: Little Egret - The picture and size fit, Sibley also describes "stringy breast plumes" (!), but is there any real possibility?? Snowy Egret - This was my first thought, but it did not have the black bill I am used to seeing (in New England). However, the non-breeding adult could fit. But the "yellow lores" were not obvious. The lores seemed darker, but perhaps I wasn't close enough. Little blue Heron- juvenile - The bill color and lores are not right. I've seen enough these in Florida so be rather familiar with them. Cattle Egret - juvenile - although the color pattern fits, this bird seemed too large. But mainly the CAEG's bill is somewhat stubby. (Again I have seen many of these in Florida.) ---- I am confident it was not a Cattle Egret, or Great Egret. I feel rather sure it was not a Little Blue. If the Little cannot be considered, that leaves the Snowy. I have seen these frequently in New England, but never saw anything with the plumes like this bird had. They were as long as the body. At first, I thought that this was just a piece of trash with some streamers waving in the wind, but then it stuck up its head and I had good looks at its head and bill. After a little searching on the internet, I see that the Snowy can display some rather long plumage. But what was on this bird was way long. I am wondering now, if it became loaded with some paper streamers from the trash in the flooding. The river is very, very high and trash abounds. It it got tangled up in this, that might be the reason it was so sedentary (and might keep it there for a while). Richard Cressman Columbus OH [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]