Snowy Egret preening atop tree: Small Point, Maine | Click for larger view
Taking advantage of a brief period of sunshine on Sunday, I got into the car and drove down the peninsula to Small Point. My goal was to photograph birds that are migrating to the area. The first stop that I made was on Route 216, opposite Totman Cove.
Leaving the car, I quietly walked the road until I came to a small cove. A Great Blue Heron grunted and flew off toward Hermit Island. Buffleheads and Common Goldeneye were feeding in the cove and the melodic chorus of Red-winged Blackbirds and Song Sparrows filled the air.
As I continued to survey the area, my line of sight was drawn to a small island covered with spruce trees. At the top of one of the spruces was a Snowy Egret preening in the morning sunlight. Behind me, a cloud bank inched it’s way toward the sun and I had little time to photography this beautiful bird. I snapped away, gaining 16 photos before the clouds obscurred the sun.
I decided to head back home. Clouds continued to build but a few more peaks of sunshine allowed several more photos on the way back. I will post those photos, which include an Osprey, in a day or two.
Happy birding!
{ 8 comments }
Superb John. It is nice to see them and nice to get pictures with some kind of pose and a nice environment!!
Congrats!
Such a lovely bird! I love how its perched like that on the tree. I would love to see one on my own this year.
I cant understand why they like the very tops of trees to hang out or even preen..doesn’t look like the best footing..
I guess its still pretty cold there in Maine. We have a cold front that just came in to NC and tonight we will see 31 degrees…burrrr.
Very nice, I like the simplicity of the photo.
What a great shot of the egret preening himself in what seems to be a small precarious branch!
Nice shot. Looks like it was quite far away.
Beautiful capture of the Snowy Egret in the tree tops John! I love seeing them up there in the trees. It always amazes me how at home they are clinging on to sometimes precarious perches.
Thanks Shelley, Tom & Larry!
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