New Horizons

by Carol Lloyd

Title

New Horizons

Artist

Carol Lloyd

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

While standing on a small pier by a lake, actually trying to find turtles or alligators for my granddaughter to see, this great white egret flew out of the bush area. I caught him in flight as he sought new horizons for feeding or maybe even lounging!?

Per Wikipedia:
The great egret is a large heron with all-white plumage. Standing up to 1 m (3.3 ft) tall, this species can measure 80 to 104 cm (31 to 41 in) in length and have a wingspan of 131 to 170 cm (52 to 67 in). Body mass can range from 700 to 1,500 g (1.5 to 3.3 lb), with an average of around 1,000 g (2.2 lb). 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. Differentiated from the intermediate egret (Mesophoyx intermedius) by the gape, which extends well beyond the back of the eye in case of the great egret, but ends just behind the eye in case of the intermediate egret.

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. The great egret walks with its neck extended and wings held close. The great egret is not normally a vocal bird; it gives a low hoarse croak when disturbed, and at breeding colonies, it often gives a loud croaking cuk cuk cuk and higher-pitched squawks.

Featured in the following FAA groups:
Wild Birds of the World
Poetic Poultry
FAA Portraits - Birds
Wildlife One A Day
KINGDOM Animalia
Tropical Greeting Cards
Animal Photographs
Nikon Full Frame Cameras

Uploaded

February 24th, 2017

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