Hunting Egret by TwoPynts

Photography • Animals • posted on Nov 22, 2005

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Description

"Nature's music is never over; her silences are pauses, not conclusions." --Mary Webb

A Great Egret hunting for a snack along the banks of a lake in St. Augustine, Florida. I was drawn to the intent gaze, and the graceful S-curve of its neck. The Great Egret is one of my favorite waterbirds. ----- GREAT EGRET Ardea albus Habitat: Freshwater and saltwater marshes, streams, ponds, lakes, and mud flats. Weight: 32-40 ounces. Length: 38 inches. Wingspan: 55 inches. Life Expectancy: Some banded birds have lived more than 22 years. Food: Fishes, frogs, salamanders, snakes, crayfish, mice, aquatic insects, crickets, grasshoppers, and a variety of other insects. Identification: The great egret is a large member of the heron family, with long legs, white plumage, and a slender body. Adults have black legs and feet. During the breeding season, the normally yellow bill may appear orange and long feather plumes (aigrettes) extend from the back to beyond the tail. Immature egrets and non-breeding adults have no plumes and the color of their bills and legs is duller. The wings of the great egret are proportionately longer and broader than most other white herons. In flight, the great egret holds its neck in a more open S-shape than do other white herons. The species utters a loud, low-pitched, hoarse croak. The sexes are similar in appearance but males are slightly larger. Interesting Facts: Great egrets do not feed at night like some other heron species. They either forage alone or in mixed flocks, often by slowly walking in shallow water. The great egret has also been called the American egret, common egret, great white egret, and angel bird. ----- Thanks for stopping by and for your passionate comments on my last photo, Love Is In The Air.

----- Olympus C8080WZ & PhotoshopCS. (485)

Comments (51)

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jcv2

6:02PM | Tue, 22 November 2005

Wonderful capture of this egret! So... it's breeding season now? Don't have an idea about Florida seasons, we're just stuck in the cold right now! Fabulous work, Kort, love the simple combinations of green, blue and white (with a little orange)!

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sossy

7:30PM | Tue, 22 November 2005

hey, what a cool capture! fantastic composed showing the looooong neck! amazing sharp details! simply gorgeous and also contrastful! ;o)

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redchilicat

7:58PM | Tue, 22 November 2005

Beautiful shot :-)

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WandM

12:24AM | Wed, 23 November 2005

Love this picture. Wonderful.

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MaydaMason

12:51AM | Wed, 23 November 2005

so simple and graphical! wonderful pov and crop!

pimbotin

1:43AM | Wed, 23 November 2005

Is it a snake or a bird? Excellent shot!

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KPK

2:06AM | Wed, 23 November 2005

Absolutely great. The thumbnail took my attention immediately.

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tallpindo

5:28AM | Wed, 23 November 2005

I had some wild fowl stamps as a boy and was drawn by the "Snowey Egret" painted by Audubon. I didn't know it was extinct or that it was hat plumes that doomed it. When I saw the purple "cow egrets" on the freeway median the first time I came to Florida I was overjoyed that even a lesser form had survived.

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