A Really Tall Bird

[Jimbo357mag]

This guy flew into the backyard to have a look around.
Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta)

...Jimbo

 

[Snake45]

Only thing I know about egrets is, they show up in crossword puzzles a lot (along with rocs and emus). :wink: :lol:

 

[SteveRuger]

First times I have seen one!

 

[WendyZXZ]

Great picture, Jimbo!

I love birds and they are some beautiful animals.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

We get them (and Blue Herons) out in the fields in Southern California hunting ground squirrels, mice, lizards and snakes. People don't realize what active raptors egrets and herons are-they'll eat anything alive that they can swallow, NOT just fish.

Great pic!

 

[caryc]

Not much meat on those drumsticks.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

When these guys hunt they bend their necks into an 'S' shape and move their heads side to side to range their prey. Then they sneak up on a lizard or small fish and strike, sometimes piercing their prey with that sharp beak. They will then toss it up in the air to get it going head first down their throat. 8) 8)

Video of Egret catching some small fish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Rc1nvp2rzo

...Jimbo

 

[bennettfam]

Careful, they can empty a Koi pond while you are not looking.

 

[Rick Courtright]

We get them (and Blue Herons) out in the fields in Southern California hunting ground squirrels, mice, lizards and snakes.

Hi,

I grew up thinking these guys were "water" birds, but learned later what Mike's talking about. Strangest place I've seen egrets was in a freshly plowed field out in the middle of the desert, just going to town on whatever critters had been turned up. Closest water was probably 30 miles away--Colorado River--so they had a bit of a "commute."

Beautiful birds (if you DON'T have a fish pond! My next door neighbor doesn't quite share my view!)

Rick C

 

[eric conrad]

Got chicken ranches around here and these guys love the place. The ones I see have black beaks.
Eric

 

[ruggedruger]

You now can't say that you've lived your life without (r)egrets.