For years now, a blue heron has had a nest at the northeast corner of The Lake. Nothing quite like watching a blue heron fly up out of the grass near the water. I can see it perched on a dead tree truck on the far shore (bottom left photo). [Photos taken on my Nikon Coolpix which has got to be at least seven or eight years old.]
It walks like an Egyptian
That was taken on the trailcam we set up to watch the beavers repairing their lodge.
The world would be a much better place if more folks could stroll down to a lake and walk around a peninsula scaring up blue herons, or sit outside listening to music and watching the clouds roll on.
We have an egret that visits. Very dramatic bird…it’s a seasonal thing, and he never stays long. I’ve wondered where they go to nest and raise chicks (?? or whatever they call baby egrets) but it isn’t here, and I don’t know why it even comes. It just stands alone for about 5 minutes, then flies off. Doesn’t appear to be looking for food… I just don’t know. But they _are_ a dramatic looking bird!
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Is it a Snowy or Great Egret? I’d imagine a Great Egret– that’s the bigger of the two. We have cattle egrets which are a hoot to watch, following the cows!
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Using this as my reference, I think it’s a cattle egret…but I’m definitely no expert.
As impressive as it is, if it _is_ “just” a cattle egret, I can only imagine how impressive a great snowy would be!!
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But if you’re only seeing one… . I’m no expert either but whenever I’ve seen cattle egrets there’s always a bunch of them.
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I’ve only ever seen one of them. Not infrequently (this time of year) I see them in the waterways along the roads, or down by the riverbed, but only one at a time. Never even in pairs…so…how???? Obviously more I don’t know! They apparently have a secret life. For all I know, I may only be seeing them when they’re going from somewhere to somewhere, and that’s why I don’t see more of them. I just don’t know.
Judging by the map they have we appear to be in the migratory zone, although there is a _very_ __slight__ possibility that we’re in a year round zone. Possible, but not likely, I think.
I think I’m going to have to drag out our binoculars and have them handy for the next time that big bird shows up! closer look might be be more informative…
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That compare feature is nice. I’d forgotten about it.
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We have an egret that visits. Very dramatic bird…it’s a seasonal thing, and he never stays long. I’ve wondered where they go to nest and raise chicks (?? or whatever they call baby egrets) but it isn’t here, and I don’t know why it even comes. It just stands alone for about 5 minutes, then flies off. Doesn’t appear to be looking for food…
I just don’t know. But they _are_ a dramatic looking bird!
Is it a Snowy or Great Egret? I’d imagine a Great Egret– that’s the bigger of the two. We have cattle egrets which are a hoot to watch, following the cows!
Using this as my reference, I think it’s a cattle egret…but I’m definitely no expert.
https://www.britannica.com/animal/egret
As impressive as it is, if it _is_ “just” a cattle egret, I can only imagine how impressive a great snowy would be!!
But if you’re only seeing one… . I’m no expert either but whenever I’ve seen cattle egrets there’s always a bunch of them.
I’ve only ever seen one of them. Not infrequently (this time of year) I see them in the waterways along the roads, or down by the riverbed, but only one at a time. Never even in pairs…so…how????
Obviously more I don’t know! They apparently have a secret life. For all I know, I may only be seeing them when they’re going from somewhere to somewhere, and that’s why I don’t see more of them. I just don’t know.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Egret
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cattle_Egret
Check out the maps, too.
Using that link as a guide, it’s not the cattle egret – no where’s close! The first site I saw made them look much more similar.
This one did not:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Egret/species-compare/70691031
Judging by the map they have we appear to be in the migratory zone, although there is a _very_ __slight__ possibility that we’re in a year round zone. Possible, but not likely, I think.
I think I’m going to have to drag out our binoculars and have them handy for the next time that big bird shows up! closer look might be be more informative…
That compare feature is nice. I’d forgotten about it.