Crops & Clips: Little Blue Heron

Early in the morning, the shadows of pine trees stretch in long dark lines far across the wet prairie:



This photo has the rich warm colors of autumn, yet it was taken on the first day of spring. I was walking along a primitive farm road which runs due west, so the sun rose behind me and cast my shadow on the path ahead: 



All generalizations are false, including this one-- "All white herons are egrets." True, here in south Florida the most common white heron in our local birding patch is the Great Egret, so graceful in flight:



Egrets possess decorative fluffy plumes (aigrettes). Plumes, similar to the down which underlies the body feathers, lack the barbicels which link the fine branches of body and flight feathers together to form stiff vanes (Reference below).* This distinguishes egrets from others in the heron family, as demonstrated by this Great Egret:



The Snowy Egret was hunted nearly to extinction for its plumes:



While the Great Egret has a long yellow bill and black legs, the much smaller Snowy Egret has a thin dark bill and bright yellow feet



The small Cattle Egret is usually found away from water, has a short yellow bill and dark legs:



Pregnant cow with Cattle Egrets:



Cattle Egrets may perch on the backs of cattle, seeking insects such as ticks:



Not all egrets are white. While the large Reddish Egret has a white form, most have dark plumage:



The white morph of the Great Blue Heron is white. Known as the "Great White Heron," it  may be confused with the Great Egret. This one visited our back yard lake:



The Great White Heron's bill may be bright yellow like that of the Great Egret, but its legs are lighter in color, not black:

 

Another white heron which may be misidentified as an egret is the immature Little Blue Heron. Adults of this species are dark. It has greenish legs and a blue-gray bill with a black tip:



This immature Little Blue Heron is beginning to transform into adult plumage. Its face feathers are a bit dark, and it has scattered blue feathers:



During its second year it becomes progressively darker as it molts:



This produces some interesting color patterns:



A Boat-tailed Grackle chases a Little Blue Heron which has a contrasting wing pattern:

 

The graceful egrets make such delightful photo subjects:







* There are two basic types of feather: vaned feathers which cover the exterior of the body, and down feathers which are underneath the vaned feathers... A typical vaned feather features a main shaft, called the rachis. Fused to the rachis are a series of branches, or barbs; the barbs themselves are also branched and form the barbules. These barbules have minute hooks called barbicels for cross-attachment. Down feathers are fluffy because they lack barbicels, so the barbules float free of each other, allowing the down to trap air and provide excellent thermal insulation. At the base of the feather, the rachis expands to form the hollow tubular calamus (or quill) which inserts into a follicle in the skin. The basal part of the calamus is without vanes. This part is embedded within the skin follicle and has an opening at the base (proximal umbilicus) and a small opening on the side (distal umbilicus). (Wikipedia)



= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Gosia

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

________________________________________________

Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

________________________________________________