Tag Archives: catch

Foraging Snowy Egret

Almost any time I spot any sort of egret, it seems like the bird is busy eating. The snowy and great egrets, in particular, always seem to be hunting — and they are quite expert at it. I had gone to a little point overlooking a pond, intending to photograph small birds, when I noticed this snowy egret in the plants along the shoreline. I began photographing, figuring that it would quickly fly off or at least begin to edge away — but it stuck around and continued foraging.

The first I heard of these birds was in a college natural history class. The professor was a particular fan of the snowy egrets — I believe he wrann a group working to protect them. Oddly, I don’t recall actually seeing the birds or at least learning to recognize them until decades later. The first egrets I remember seeing were great egrets that I would encounter along creeks in the early morning, but since I began paying more attention I have seen many snowy egrets and a few of their other cousins.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove

Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove

Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 30, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An egret raises its wings after catching a fish in the kelp beds at Whalers Cove, Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

Another in the egret series from Whalers Cover at Point Lobos. This bird had just caught the fish you see in its beak and was making a quick move across the kelp in which it had been fishing before swallowing the fish.

keywords: egret, wings, beak, bill, fish, catch, food, wildlife, kelp, bed, feathers, tail, water, bay, pacific, ocean, cove, whalers, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, monterey, peninsula, carmel, big sur, coast, shore, nature, stock

Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove

Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove

Egret with Fish, Whalers Cove. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 30, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An egret with wings extended catches a fish in the kelp at Whalers’ Cove, Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

Another photograph of the egret that cooperated so nicely with my attempts to make photographs during my late November visit to Point Lobos. This photograph was made seconds after the bird had caught a fish in the kelp bed and was about to consume it.

keywords: egret, bird, wildlife, fish, wing, feather, extended, flight, catch, sun, kelp, bed, whalers, cove, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, nature, travel, pacific, ocean, sea, coast, shore, bay, monterey, bay, peninsula, carmel, big sur, stock