Snowy Egret

February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

This Snowy Egret was wading in the shallows on Carate Beach, acting more like a sandpiper than an Egret… but, whatever works, I suppose!

Great Egret

June 2012 – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA

Amazing how skittish these birds are. I was quite some distance from this Great Egret, but he didn’t like the sight of me and took off before too long.

Great Egret

May 2012 – Tule Lake, California

Here are a couple images of Great Egrets from the shores of Tule Lake. This first one was hunting along the shore… I was able to sneak up on him a little bit by ducking behind some reeds. These are very skittish birds, and will take flight at the slightest hint of disturbance.

Great Egret

This second image was further along the “nature road” on the southwest shoreline of Tule Lake. I was able to use my car as a blind, but it only worked so-so… the Great Egret flew back and forth, not wanting to let the giant blue Subaru get too close.

Cattle Egret

November 2007 – Kaua’i

Cattle Egrets originated in Africa, but have spread around the world – anywhere there are warm fields to probe for bugs, they find a home.

Great Blue Heron

April 2012 – Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, OR
These are very wary birds… and I’m always excited to sneak up on one and snap a few photos before I’m noticed. In this case, this bird was working a small creek for tiny morsels – tadpoles, I think. He noticed me a few moments later and flew 20 yards downstream.

Great Blue Heron

October 2008 – Oneonta Falls, OR
This photo was taken right next to the plunging Oneonta Falls, in the Columbia River Gorge. This spot is essentially a deep and narrow slot canyon. It’s a pretty tight spot, and a really unusual place to see such a bird. The heron had flown up to the falls, perhaps in pursuit of fish or frogs – not clear. It seemed to be somewhat oblivious to my presence. It was also getting soaked with spray from the nearby waterfall.  This was one of the strangest bird sightings I’ve had.