CLOSED: I've got a hard one...

I was in New Branfels, TX a few weekends ago, and our hotel was next to the Comal river. I went for walks by the river several times, and one evening on such a walk this grayish bird with white streaks on the side of it's face and black on top of its head went zipping by very low to the water, landed on a branch draped over the water for a moment, then took off again. I had my camera with me trying to get a shot of the wood ducks who came in each evening to roost. There was not much daylight left, and it was so far I could barely see it with my naked eye, but I aimed the camera in the general area I thought it was and took a shot, and fortunately I got it. It is very fuzzy, and I have enhanced the photo since it was really dark. The mystery bird is circled in pink. GOOD LUCK!

This message was edited Nov 24, 2008 12:12 AM

Best guess is Northern Mockingbird, but I think realistically, another UFO.

Resin

It's hard to tell the size, but look at pics of Black-crowned Night Herons

Belted King Fisher? Maybe?

Belted KF is a possibility, tho' not I think Black-crowned Night Heron . . . not something I'd think of as "zipping by"!!

Resin

It looks like a chickadee to me. Distance and size can be hard to determine that late in the day.

Frank

My guess would be Belted Kingfisher.

The markings are similar to that of a chickadee yes... but it was way bigger than a chickadee!! True about the night herons - I have definitely never seen one fly fast at all! LOL I guess I should have included a size for help ID'ing the fella. I would say maybe bigger than a blue jay, but not as big as a ring billed gull?? Does a kingfisher fit in that size category? Also, would a kingfisher be out at that time (nearly dark)

OK I am satisfied with a kingfisher good job guys