The Egret Flies

I learned a couple of years ago that it's no use trying to focus on a bird in flight. I'm not that fast, and autofocus is even slower. So now I focus on the background ahead of time. 

 

Still, a bird flying is moving pretty fast, so getting an image that's not totally blurred is challenging. I'm pleased with the one below - what marvelous wings he has!


The egret flew from one spot to another several times while I was taking his picture. I don't think I upset him much; he seemed pretty calm until a family with children showed up. Then he took off to find a less crowded area.

Assateague Island, Virginia

Egret, Assateague Island

This is a pretty common scene on Assateague Island. The marshes are home to many birds.

See earlier post, The Egret Flies.

The Great Egret

When we lived on Egret Court (Montross), we never saw an egret, although great blue herons lived around our cove. On Assateague Island, however, there are plenty of egrets to see and photograph.

Sweet Summer CrittersI

I waited a while for the goose to pose between the benches. 

I think this is the first egret I've seen in our neighborhood.

It's Saturday and time to share some birds, plus a squirrel and llama. I took all of these in my neighborhood except for the llama.

We live next to a lake so we get to see water-loving birds. The most common are geese and ducks of various varieties, and sometimes a heron appears briefly. I was delighted to see the egret! I've seen plenty of them on Assateague Island but not here in the Shenandoah Valley. Such graceful birds!

Young llama at a local festival

Ducks visiting our yard

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Egrets, S'il Vous Plaît.

Don't Look if You are Tired of Egret Pictures!

While we were on the Eastern Shore I took more egret pictures than I needed. I've been posting my favorites and I thought I was done but then I realized I still had some left that I really like.  Like the others, these are on Assateague Island.

Linking to: Weekend Reflections

and Saturday's Critters

and The Bird D'Pot

From the Pedestrian/Bike Trail Bridge

Egret, Chincoteague, VA

A nice bridge takes cyclists across the marsh between the Museum of Chincoteague and the entrance to Assateague Island. Motor vehicles use Maddox Boulevard a few feet away.

You can rent a bike on Chincoteague and ride it through town and through the wildlife refuge. Just be prepared for mosquitos; they like the marshes they like to bite!

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday

White Egret, Black and White Pictures

A great place to see egrets is Assateague Island. I took additional pictures during this session plus a bunch the next morning, so expect to see some color versions later.

Linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday

and Black and White Wednesday