Yesterday at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, several egrets were standing enjoying the rising sun. They were wearing their breeding plumage with long airy feathers (see https://janthinaimages.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/she-sits-in-her-beauty-upon-her-nest/).
One was playing pickaboo as it preened itself.
Dalo 2013 said:
These are such great shots Hien, so worth of the majesty that egrets have…and the lighting makes the mood.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Randall!
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Jeteliot said:
Absolutely stunning photos, Hien. 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you, Jet!
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Agnes said:
They are beautiful! Great pictures!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Agnes. Glad you like them.
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Tiny said:
Gorgeous pictures!! The light is incredible! And I’ve always admired their flexibility…whether preening or playing peekaboo 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you, Tiny! The light at 7:30 in the morning was very good, and there was no haze.
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katelon said:
Lovely photos!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks, Katelon!
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Amy said:
Great shots, Hien! Love these beautiful egrets. 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Amy!
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Mary said:
It was as though they knew you were there to take their photograph. The colors of the light, their feathers – all picturesque.
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neihtn2012 said:
They indeed stood there, only moving their necks and bills, waiting for their photographer to get his act under way! 🙂 Thanks, Mary.
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Sue Slaght said:
The reflections are amazing!
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Helen C said:
Beautiful! They sure know how to keep their features clean 😉
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Helen. Like Judy said below, the egrets spend a lot of time preening and cleaning themselves.
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Judy said:
Looks like a serene day out at the refuge!! Yeah, Egrets spend an awful lot of time preening all those lovely feathers don’t they. It is fun to realize that the birds I am seeing here in Florida, you are also seeing in your neck of the woods. By the lores turning green and the abundance of aigrettes yours are getting into the mood for love too! I expect my season begins before yours and advances northward.
Those aigrettes nearly cost the Great Egret its existence when they were nearly hunted to extinction for their lovely plumes. And I used the word ‘hunted’ lightly since the birds were often shot right in their nests sitting on their eggs because that is when the plumes are most luxurious. They begin to drop off and thin out the older the chicks get. I think of them as a bridal train!!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Judy. I am glad that fashion has now bypassed airgrettes, and that the Great Egrets have survived to these days.
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Victor Rakmil said:
Wow!
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basiga said:
Great shots!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you!
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