Great White Egret
Taken Thursday in Pasadena, MD.
The Great Egret is a large bird with all-white plumage that can reach one
meter in height, weigh up to 950 grams (2.1 lb) and a wingspan of 220 to 265 cm.
It is thus only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Heron (A. cinerea).
Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by
its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and
the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate
ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in
appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults. It is a common species,
usually easily seen. It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is
characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks,
cranes, ibises and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight.
Since this was a cha cha, the background water was not in sync.
Somehow, I ended up basically converting the majority of the image from
2D-3D.
Cha cha, Pentax K10D, PS, SPM, IrfanView.
Cheers,
Brian
