White Egret...guarding the nest

[Eric D]

White Egret standing tall at Sunset...perched high up in the tree. Their nest are in some tough spots!!

[scott-devon]

Wow! That is a beautiful shot, Eric.

[OldClicker]

Wow! Is that feather arrangement a display or are they just being blown around or something? – TF

[Grandpaw]

That is ONE GREAT PICTURE! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I don't see how you could have done any better, Jeff

[Loupey]

What a terrific display!

[Eric D]

Wow! Is that feather arrangement a display or are they just being blown around or something? – TF

Actually all the Males puff up like this while nesting. Thinking it's a macho thing!!

[Shebang]

Awesome!! (lengthening my message...)

[Intrepid Berkeley Explorer]

Unlike the Great Blue Heron, whose colorful claims are suspect, Egrets never fail to be a brilliant white, as in your wonderful photo. But then I get confused over proper species identification.

Both where I live and on trips to distant lands it's not always simple to distinguish between the Great Egret, Cattle Egret, and Snowy Egret. I was given an Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds that has only served to increase my uncertainties.

If the bird were standing, its height and long neck would indicate a Great Egret. But your nesting picture is far too lovely, offering no such clues. The Audubon guide fails to recognize existence of a "White Egret", but I take your side and disregard the field guide.