These photos lends provides some perspective on the concept of ‘getting into’ fishing. Not only do these Snowy Egrets go after their food into the water to stab or grab them with their long bills but so do a number of other ‘wading birds’ including herons and other egrets.
Check out this bird’s legs–Snowy Egrets have black legs, at least in the front, and yellow feet. This gives them a very distinctive appearance that makes it easy to identify them.
Snowy Egrets range throughout many of the lower 48 states but have strayed into most the rest of those states and into southern parts of Canada. Since they feed in water they are generally found at ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, marshes and swamps, mudflats plus along many coastal areas. As opportunists they forage not only for fish but shrimp, crustaceans and even frogs.
I photographed this bird fishing last week in So. Texas where I am visiting. There are many Snowy Egrets in this usually semi-tropical location (though today it was quite chilly as the high only in the 40′s and a very high humidity level that makes it feel especially cold to this westerner who comes from a dry climate). Other common wading birds include Great Blue Herons (that most are familiar with) and Great Egrets.
While not found in most people’s back yard (unless they have a pond in their yard), they can be found in areas near when many of us live.
Do you ever go to areas with water where you have seen Snowy Egrets?
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One of my favorite birds, SeEtta! In my Florida yard, where I live on a large pond, I see these every day. I particularly love to watch them fish, since they wiggle their yellow feet like lures for the unsuspecting fish! Here’s a post I wrote awhile ago with a few more pictures: http://birdsandbloomsblog.com/2011/08/16/birding-at-the-beach-snowy-egret/
Hi Jill,
You are so lucky to have a large pond so you can have these Snowy Egrets as ‘yard’ birds! Thanks for the link your post about them.
I was reading and watching the pictures of the fishing Snowy Egret and I live on a lake in Brandon, Fl. and watch them all the time. We are so fortunate here as so much wildlife in a rather built up neighborhood. I have had a new experience this year with Whistling Ducks and Glossy Ibis which I have not seen here before in the fifteen years I have been living here. The ducks come right in the yard and eat what the birds drop from the feeders. However, they do eat the blooms on my plants as well.
Hello Diane,
Gosh, another fortunate person with a body of water in or adjacent to their property. Sounds like you have a lot of neat waterbirds (like Snowy Egrets) and waterfowl you can enjoy.
This is one of my most favorite larger birds. We have seen them along the coast of Maryland and now around Williamsburg VA as well. I most often see them in Ocean City MD, along the bay side of the peninsula. My husband even bought me a couple of sculptures of the Great Egret for Christmas a few years ago. They are on the wall of our condo in OC, MD. Love them!!!
This is just fantiastic!!! It just goes on and on and on with wonderful information and pictures that I would never had the opportunity to see any place else.
Thank you.
teapotlady