Can anyone id this Florida shore bird?

[davidedric]

Can anyone help, because it has me stumped.

I'm looking at a short, heavy bill. Longish yellow legs, but pale at the top. No white belly. Orange eye. medium sized, or maybe large for a sandpiper.

I'll wager it's a juvenile of something. Grrrr

[Barbara Ponder]

I am not sure but could be a juvenile little green heron.

[Geoff F]

Just going by the legs I wonder if it is a Greenshank? But I'm using a UK book.

Good photo - I've always found them to be rather timid.

[terrib]

I think it is a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron, although I can't seem to put my hands on a definitive, reliable link. I'm going mostly by the shape of the head and eye color.

[davidedric]

Hanks for a push in the right direction, Barbara. I can see now it's a juvenile yellow crowned night heron. The Orange eye means it's not a black crowned. I was fooled because it was probing the mud like a sandpaper!

Thanks Terri - we were posting at the same time!

Dave