Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret was stunning on the Darchance pond yesterday. I love her little shaggy pony mane, and how when foraging occasionally she get's excited, does a little gallop, and her shag catches the air like a wild pony. The wild shag is more pronounced during breeding season. It is not true that she is crazy as written about. She only uses one foot to draw circles to stir up the food she wishes to dine on. She is a social butterfly, preferring to fly, nest, and forage in a group.

She is listed as a State Species of Special Concern by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule due to loss of habitat, wetlands, and declining population.

Bird du jour at pond - Egrets +

Derexa pond has had less and less birds each day this week. I think the fish are getting down in numbers. Today I saw Great egrets, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Sandhill Crane, black necked stilt, Common Gallinule, Double-crested Cormorant, and Mallard x Mottled Ducks.

I asked at whatbird.com why I am seeing cattle egrets, some pure white and some with tan and here was the answer:

per Joejr14 "Cattle egrets in breeding plumage get the tan/orange coloration on the head/neck.  When they're not in breeding plumage they're all white."

snowy egret

Snowy Egret at the Fresh water  Derexa Pond this morning and also with the bigger Great Egret