Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
This is an adult, nonbreeding Snowy
Egret. Note the black beak and yellow lores, the black on the
forelegs and lighter color on the rear portion. "... also
distinguished by mostly black bill and yellow
feet. Very similar to immature to Little
Blue Heron." (The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern
North America, p.51).
"In winter, this species is
an uncommon resident along the Coastal Plains, becoming rare farther
inland" (The Texas Ornithological Society Handbook of
Texas Birds, p. 34).
Photo taken with a Nikon D80 using
a Nikon 300mm f/4.5.
October 14, 2009.