There was lots of bird activity yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and a flurry of Snowies I spotted kept things interesting early in the morning.
Snowy Egret scratching – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
These lovely, white wading birds had congregated in one area where the river was low and where the light was good.
Snowy Egret about to scratch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
By this time of the year Snowy Egrets are done with nesting and brooding their young. I only saw adults at this location but from my visits to the refuge lately I would say they had a successful breeding season just by the large numbers of Snowy Egrets I have seen.
Really big stretch from a Snowy Egret – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Snowy Egrets yesterday were foraging, resting, preening, stretching, chasing each other around and all of them were avoiding one juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron who seemed to have staked out the area as its territory.
Snowy Egret preening on a perch in the Bear River – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It was a bright, clear morning so exposing the bright white plumage of the egrets correctly against the darker water was a challenge because whites are easy to blow out which leaves the plumage without fine details.
Snowy Egret about to land – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This Snowy Egret was landing after being chased off a rock in the river by the young Black-crowned Night Heron. I sure like the spread wings, flared tail and great view of the “Golden Slippers” that Snowy Egrets are known for.
Snowy Egret rousing after a preening session – Nikon D810, f13, 1/640, ISO 400, – 0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A group of egrets has many collective nouns including a “congregation”, “heronry”, “RSVP”, “skewer” and “wedge” but I think that a “flurry” best describes a group of Snowy Egrets. I like seeing a flurry of Snowy Egrets any time of the year.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Snowy Egret photos plus facts and information about this species.
Very nice collection of images of a beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing. Just returned from a few days at the Homestead in Midway UT and was thrilled to see a large Great Horned Owl high in a tree one evening, which was a first for me.
I think these are more beautiful than Great Egrets. Thank you.
A flurry would fit.
As would a ‘beauty’.
I do love nouns of congregation.
These photos make me happy. thanks.
Beautiful collection! I always get a big kick out of the bright, yellow feet…did Mother Nature give those guys the wrong ones…or were they the only ones that fit???
A great collection of these beautiful birds. Photography is exquisitely sensational!!. Thanks for sharing these with us Mia.