Great Egret in Bellingham

[Joemeche]

This one has been on Southside for three days now, looking relatively content, even in today's rainy, blustery weather.
All it did while I was there was preen....a lot!

 

[squirl033]

nice shot, Joe... i haven't been to the marina here in Everett for a bit over a week to see if "our" egret is still around... seems a little odd to see 'em this far north, though!

 

[Joemeche]

There have been two in the lower BC mainland for a while. Maybe they're moving south?

 

[squirl033]

or north! these guys are a lot more common in Oregon and California than up here... i've lived in this area all my life and never seen one here till this summer.

 

[Joemeche]

I was thinking they might be heading south for the winter. It's true that they've been expanding their range farther north, and that's OK by me. I grew up with these beauties in southwest Louisiana so it's a touch of home for me.
Of course, there's the climate change factor to throw into the mix....

 

[squirl033]

according to birding sites, they don't normally get this far north... they migrate from South and Central America to the southern US to breed, and don't usually make it any farther north than Oregon or southern Idaho on this side of the Rockies... maybe the warmer weather this year brought them farther north? either way, i'm happy to take advantage of the opportunity to photograph one up close! i'd love to see it in a habitat less "civilized" than a bunch of floating logs at a marina, but i'll take what i can get!

 

[Bill Anderson]

I saw a few near Lake Vancouver (WA) two or three winters ago.

 

[squirl033]

I saw a few near Lake Vancouver (WA) two or three winters ago.

yeah, they're more common down by the Columbia. i saw one at Ridgefield my last trip down there, but it was much to far away for a photo...