What are YOU looking at
The hot summer sun was cooled by the soft ocean breeze as I tried to sneak closer to this beautiful bird.. I went as far as I dared and stopped and crouched down to steady the camera and take a few photos.. This beautiful snowy bird.. turned and looked at me as I snapped a few photos.. then to my surprise it came closer to me.. I am guessing that he/she was just trying to get a closer look as well..
When I set out after photos.. I thought this bird was a snowy egret.. but when I looked up snowy egret this morning.. it said that they have yellow feet.. and I know that this one did not.. it had black feet.. so if any of you know what it is.. please let me know..
Hey Stacey,
How tall? Wingspan? any soft flowing feathers on neck or chest?
Oops, looked at the photo again and saw the breeding plumes on the neck. Okay, according to Sibley, Great White Herons have a yellow bill and legs. A great egret has yellow bill and black legs. A snowy has black beak, yellow lores and legs. Reddish egret as a 2nd year bird has grey beak and black legs. It is 30″ tall, wingspan of 46″ and weighs only one pound. It’s only been documented in the middle and each side of TX only once each place but is found on the gulf shore along TX and Mexico. The adult has a pink beak with about one third of it black at the tip. This is the white morph of the reddish egret. The also, obviously come in a red/grey color too.
Thank you Susan.. looks like it is what they call a “reddish egret” would never have guessed that.. but I do have photos of the red(brown) one too… They really are a cool bird.. and I was totally convinced it was a snowy when I took the pictures.. but remembered that the feet were not yellow when it flew.. Miss you… Watching the Tropical storm that is headed this way.. VERY closely.. and planning my escape route already..