Great Egret
Ardea alba
Great Egrets are birds with worldwide distribution. Depending on where encountered, they are known as the Great White Egret, Common Egret, White Heron, or in past times, the Great White Heron, however now this last example is used to describe the white morph of the Great Blue Heron.
Great Egrets are winter birds on the coastal regions within about 100 miles of the Pacific from Washington south through the Mexican border, and year-round residents at coastal wetlands and river valleys. Year-round these birds live in the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast USA. Summers will find a few birds migrating inland as far as the upper Mississippi Valley and parts of the Great Basin.
My encounters with these stealth hunters have been in California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and in Texas. Sometimes in North America, these tall birds will get confused with the smaller Snowy Egret, but if you look for bill and leg color, you will find the Great Egret has legs that are not as dark as the black legs and yellow feet of the Snowy, and the Snowy’s bill is black, while the Great Egret’s is orangish yellow.
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Gathering of the clan at Poe Road. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:12 8:14 |
|
Location:
Poe Road |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X3100-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Banking flight for landing near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 15:04 |
|
Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X3980-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Takeoff from near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:28 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X6928-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Taking off from where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon.regon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:04 20:14 |
|
Location:
Veteran's Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X8677-GreatEgret |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Being harassed by Western Kingbird near Lindsey Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 6:27 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD2818.GreatEgret |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Lake Hodges. San Diego County, California |
Date Taken: 2010:07:31 18:32 |
|
Location:
Lake Hodges |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD3472.GreatEgret |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 14:35 |
|
Location:
Robb Field |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/6400 |
File Name: JCD5574.GreatEgret |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Feral bird at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Escondido, California. |
Date Taken: 2000:02:22 16:35 |
|
Location:
San Pasqual |
|
Camera Information: |
File Name: a00226a04-GreatEgret |
| © 2000 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Famosa Slough. Northern Point Loma, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:29 11:21 |
|
Location:
Famosa Slough |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/12.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_1696GreatEgret |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Lower San Diego River. San Diego California. |
Date Taken: 2004:10:29 13:53 |
|
Location:
San Diego River |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_1832GreatEgret |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Nest in Rookery. Lindo Lake in Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2004:07:10 10:36 |
|
Location:
Lindo Lake |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD_7068Rookery |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Near Lack and Lindsey Roads, Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:17 19:42 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/20 |
File Name: JCD_8613GreatEgret |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: With Juvenile Least Tern near Lack and Lindsey Roads, at the Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2004:08:18 11:19 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 440 mm, f/16.0, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_8803GreatEgretLeastTern_Juv |
| © 2004 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Late afternoon landing near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California.ifornia. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:28 |
|
Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6918-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Flaps down for landing near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:35 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8002-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Coming in for a landing at Poe Road. Salton Sea. Near Westmoreland in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:10:21 10:22 |
|
Location:
Salton Sea |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X1274-GreatEgret |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Closeup captured on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 11:55 |
|
Location:
Sacramento NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D506469-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: This bird was seen foraging at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:17 |
|
Location:
Merced NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/10.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D507709-Merced-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I drove to Port Isabel from Brownsville on an errand and found birds like this egret on the roadside. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:06 11:03 |
|
Location:
Highway-48 |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D501867-PortIsabel-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I met this Great Egret foaraging for its breakfast. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, mostly spent at Heron Flats. The cranes that eluded me on Sunday gave themselves to me on this morning, as did some other nice birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 10:21 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D502241-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I met this Great Egret foaraging for its breakfast. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, mostly spent at Heron Flats. The cranes that eluded me on Sunday gave themselves to me on this morning, as did some other nice birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 10:21 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D502251-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I met this Great Egret foaraging for its breakfast. It moved on looking for better food (I guess). My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, mostly spent at Heron Flats. The cranes that eluded me on Sunday gave themselves to me on this morning, as did some other nice birds. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 10:23 |
|
Location:
Aransas NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D502277-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Big birds serious about nesting. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, so I drove south to Rockport where I would board a boat (the Skimmer) on Tuesday to see a whole new side of the reserve. In exploring the town I saw the ever-present Laughing gulls perched on a fenceline. After stopping I noticed I'd stumbled onto the Rockport Rookery, an 8+ acre site the city purchased from the Beasley family. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 16:23 |
|
Location:
Fulton (Texas) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503027-Rockport-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Big birds serious about nesting. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, so I drove south to Rockport where I would board a boat (the Skimmer) on Tuesday to see a whole new side of the reserve. In exploring the town I saw the ever-present Laughing gulls perched on a fenceline. After stopping I noticed I'd stumbled onto the Rockport Rookery, an 8+ acre site the city purchased from the Beasley family. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 16:27 |
|
Location:
Fulton (Texas) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503030-Rockport-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Big birds serious about nesting. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, so I drove south to Rockport where I would board a boat (the Skimmer) on Tuesday to see a whole new side of the reserve. In exploring the town I saw the ever-present Laughing gulls perched on a fenceline. After stopping I noticed I'd stumbled onto the Rockport Rookery, an 8+ acre site the city purchased from the Beasley family. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 16:37 |
|
Location:
Fulton (Texas) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503082-Rockport-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Big birds serious about nesting. My second day at Aransas NWR on Monday, was only a half day, so I drove south to Rockport where I would board a boat (the Skimmer) on Tuesday to see a whole new side of the reserve. In exploring the town I saw the ever-present Laughing gulls perched on a fenceline. After stopping I noticed I'd stumbled onto the Rockport Rookery, an 8+ acre site the city purchased from the Beasley family. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:16 16:38 |
|
Location:
Fulton (Texas) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503108-Rockport-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 11:44 |
|
Location:
Bahia Grande |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503565-Bahia-Grande-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 11:45 |
|
Location:
Bahia Grande |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503584-Bahia-Grande-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 11:46 |
|
Location:
Bahia Grande |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503604-Bahia-Grande-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: I watched this Great Egret foraging in Bahia Grande on my second to last day in Brownsville Texas. I spent the morning along the road to Port Isabel looking in vain for Least Grebes. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:06 11:46 |
|
Location:
Bahia Grande |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D503615-Bahia-Grande-TX |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Late afternoon landing near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California.ifornia. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:28 |
|
Location:
Lack-And-Lindsey-Roads |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6918-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Flaps down for landing near Lack & Lindsey Roads. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:13 16:35 |
|
Location:
Fondo |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8002-GreatEgret |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Crescent Harbor in Crescent City California. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:12 8:27 |
|
Location:
Crescent Harbor |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X1791-CrescentCity |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Flooded fields and shallow ponds attract waders to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area is a state run reserve near Gridley California in Butte County. |
Date Taken: 2017:09:14 15:30 |
|
Location:
Gray Lodge Wildlife Area |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X2745-GrayLodge-WLA |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Malheur NWR is in southeastern Oregon, west of Steens Mountains and south of Burns Oregon. Harney County. |
Date Taken: 2017:08:30 7:08 |
|
Location:
Visitor Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X8601-MalheurNWR |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Beachcombers at the mouth of the Smith River in Northern California near the border with Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2019:08:09 11:20 |
|
Location:
Smith River Mouth |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X0842-SmithRiverMouth |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: This Great Egret was enjoying the foraging opportunities in this quite corner of the pond until another guest walked up the trail. At 6:15am I was the first guest at the preserve and I stayed until 12:30. Bird Viewing Preserve in Henderson, southern Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:09 9:17 |
|
Location:
Bird Viewing Preserve |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X7970-Henderson-BVP |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Snowy Egrets were the most numerous waders here, but the larger Great Egrets were also in attendance. It was a lovely day at the Gilbert Water Ranch. The weather was mild, and the winds were calm. Gilbert is in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:11 12:21 |
|
Location:
Gilbert Water Ranch |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X8938-GilbertWaterRanch |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: The only wader I saw on the resaca was this lone egret. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 10:50 |
|
Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X5655-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: There was no shortage of feeding opportunities for the waders in the wetlands near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 13:51 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X3915-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: There was no shortage of feeding opportunities for the waders in the wetlands near the Convention Center. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 13:49 |
|
Location:
Convention Center |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X3805-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Great Egrets prowled the wetlands in stately elegance. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 11:51 |
|
Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X0527SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Passing the baton! My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nest building and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:06 16:27 |
|
Location:
Smith Oaks |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X9545-HighIsland_SmithOaks |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nesting and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:06 16:28 |
|
Location:
Smith Oaks |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X9555-HighIsland_SmithOaks |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: My primary objective in visiting the rookery was spoonbill-driven, but observing green-faced egrets nest building and pair-bonding was a treat. I camped on High Island (Texas) a half mile from the Smith Oaks Sanctuary, where among its 177 acres is a large pond hosting a rookery for egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. I spent my Saturday morning there and returned for another visit in the afternoon. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:06 16:18 |
|
Location:
Smith Oaks |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X9493-HighIsland_SmithOaks |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
|
Description: Many wading birds, including this Great Egret, plied the shallow ponds for crayfish and other morsels. Hunter Lane is at the far side of the park, two miles from the Resaca de la Palma Visitor Center. It is the most reliable place in the reserve to find standing water, and my favorite place to enjoy birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:21 11:05 |
|
Location:
Resaca de la Palma |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D5X4479-ResacaDeLaPalma |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
