Great Egrets...My new addiction!

Before July 26, 2016 I had never seen a Great Egret! They have been hanging out locally for several weeks now, and I keep returning to add to my collection. I have seen 4 at one time!

1)

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Kf85​Fq

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/L2zX​eq

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Kf87​oJ

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Kf8i​Kb

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/L2A2​oC

Good for you, Sandy; great shooting. I saw one here once, back in 1975, only a couple miles south of the Canadian border. They aren't normally here, although they can be routinely found in parts of southern Manitoba every year.

I see groups of dozens of those every morning on my way to work. They are amazing

CDMOOSE wrote in post #18096199
Good for you, Sandy; great shooting. I saw one here once, back in 1975, only a couple miles south of the Canadian border. They aren't normally here, although they can be routinely found in parts of southern Manitoba every year.

Thanks Al! You have quite the memory! I saw a photo of one in my area a few years ago, and ever since I have hoped to see one nearby. Not a regular here either.

PJmak wrote in post #18096226
I see groups of dozens of those every morning on my way to work. They are amazing

Wow how lucky to see so many!

I can't get over their legs in flight, they just look so... dare I say it? Odd.
And their neck; well, I'll leave it alone.
I wonder if their are other birds that would catch me like an Egret. Maybe a Stork; is a Stork considered an Egret?
What about a Crane?

However, #4 really captures their elegance. I very much like that!

They are beautiful birds and this is a wonderful series!

underd0g wrote in post #18096712
I can't get over their legs in flight, they just look so... dare I say it? Odd.
And their neck; well, I'll leave it alone.
I wonder if their are other birds that would catch me like an Egret. Maybe a Stork; is a Stork considered an Egret?
What about a Crane?

However, #4 really captures their elegance. I very much like that!

I think a more similar bird would be the Great Blue Heron. The first Heron I ever saw was when I was young, and out riding my pony. One flew over my head. I told my Dad about it, and said it must have a 6 foot wingspan. He said it was probably a Great Blue Heron. It looked so pre-historic!

butterfly2937 wrote in post #18096731
They are beautiful birds and this is a wonderful series!

Thank you Carol! I'm so glad they chose to hang out just a few miles from me, because I'm not one to travel too far for birding!

great find- I love watching these guys fish. I like the reflection in the first shot

Lovely series, Sandy!

Underd0g, an egret is just a kind of heron. Herons are different from both storks and cranes. Herons are in the order Pelecanifornes, along with bitterns and pelicans among others. Storks typically have wide heavy bills and are in Ciconiiformes while cranes have narrow bills and aee in Gruiformes. Convergent evolution is what makes them look somewhat similar.

Well done Sandy.

CaptBob wrote in post #18097660
great find- I love watching these guys fish. I like the reflection in the first shot

Thanks Bob! I managed to get lots of reflections shots. They were my favorites!

Scrumhalf wrote in post #18097901
Lovely series, Sandy!

Underd0g, an egret is just a kind of heron. Herons are different from both storks and cranes. Herons are in the order Pelecanifornes, along with bitterns and pelicans among others. Storks typically have wide heavy bills and are in Ciconiiformes while cranes have narrow bills and aee in Gruiformes. Convergent evolution is what makes them look somewhat similar.

Thanks Sam, and thanks for explaining the technical terms much better than I could!

Red Dexs wrote in post #18097911
Well done Sandy.

Thank you! They are an amazing sight to see!

A very nice series Sandy. Whites can be difficult to shoot in good to great light. You can get the exposure right and still lose detail in the whites. Next time selectively play with the contrast, back them down just a tad and most likely you will see more detail in them.

Keep up the great work.

Nice shots! They are magnificent ( or "Great" ) in their all white!

underd0g wrote in post #18096712
I can't get over their legs in flight, they just look so... dare I say it? Odd.
And their neck; well, I'll leave it alone.
I wonder if their are other birds that would catch me like an Egret. Maybe a Stork; is a Stork considered an Egret?
What about a Crane?

However, #4 really captures their elegance. I very much like that!

Storks and Cranes are two other things entirely. Egrets are "Herons" (Ardeidae)

Look for Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, and Bitterns (also herons) but if you do see a bittern, it's a bit like seeing the Holy Grail, especially if you only just noticed your first Egret


A very good read, with a variety of different Herons
https://en.wikipedia.o​rg/wiki/Heron

Nicely done Sandy, loving that first shot in flight. If they are like the ones that were here in NS last summer, you should have luck with them almost until freeze-up.

Wonderful shot....