look at this fella

So i got a call out at 22:00 Thursday. And the guerd comes up to me asking me if i know anything about birds, some stuff i think. Anyway he saw a bird flying solid into the wall and then into a car again. Walked up to the poor bird, first i was gessing a Kwartel. But then when his head turned his neck started to extend lol, was epic. Anyway he didnt fight or anything, putted him in a box and went home. I had givin him some water and within 5 seconds he started making noises and went all agro. He bitted me 3 times and i was feeling like a fictim the way he staired at me, asif he wanted to atack lol. Anyway then i knew he was okey agian. Went to the river, set him free. He was sitting there stairing at me for a while, didnt took his eyes of me, walked up to him again, i poked him and he flew of. An increadable bird i would say.
An id of the bird would be nice, never saw one before

 

Its a Squacco Heron or in Afrikaans an Ralreier. A very young one so its difficult to be precise but my wife is 99% sure and she is an avid bird watcher.

 

Put him next to one of your guppy ponds, he will clear out the whole lot in 30 minutes :laugh:.

I would release him near the reed beds next to the river in Oudtshoorn.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Awesome bird! I love your description of his attitude. Might he not perhaps be an immature Little Bittern? Honestly I just want him to be one so you can say "I was bitten by a bittern".

 

Haha that would be awsome, well i said to my girlfriend we can feed him a guppy as a joke and oh boy she wasnt happy with me. I released him by the river , i think he was dehidrated because when i found him his feet was curled up, saved a tortel dyfie before but wasnt save for to long, he died. Wish you could see the guy, it freaks you out when you look at him and all of a sudden that short neck ecstends haha. @Dirk i was a bit scared he might remember if i let him go so i putted him in a box before we took him away. Was nice to save the bird but wouldnt want that long beak in the pond. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMIYYWf8iRk here is a linkto a Squacco Heron like @a3aan said, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxFrdxG9BQ and a bittern like @PsyXe said. im not sure, he looks kinda like both