Great Egret yesterday morning at Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach, Florida.

Preening feathers.

Every single feather on a Great Egret is white.

From All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology…

The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.

Morning light is just right for egret photos.

I positioned myself to get the light on the bird and a nice background too. I was sitting in the grass, and hoping I chose a fire-ant-free spot.

What a beauty.

This pond at the park a couple of miles from home is a great spot for birds, especially this stump. It should have a wildlife live-cam focused on it to keep track of the birds that use it!

Great Egrets are fairly common around here, but I’m glad I took some time again to really look and appreciate this magnificent white bird.