Return of Egrets

Great egrets are amongst the most beautiful bird species that we might encounter in southern Ontario. Pure white feathers, a bright yellow beak and long black legs distinguish this tall member of the heron family.  They like to wade through shallow water feeding on small fish, frogs and other amphibious prey.  

Their enormous wings beat ever so slowly as they move to their preferred hunting spots. For several years I have made visits to the Hespeler Mill Pond here in Cambridge where I have found egrets in summer months. They share the water with other birds – night herons, osprey, kingfishers, blue herons and a host of other species which I am unable to identify without consulting a real birder. As I have repeated here in the past, a birder I am not!

The pond is actually a spot where the  Speed River widens before narrowing again at a dam. The Speed eventually flows into the Grand River a few kilometres further south.  

Twice in the past few days I have made visits to the pond in hopes of seeing an egret and have been lucky both times.

I’ve chosen the vantage point of a secluded spot, a short walk along the water’s edge, where I enjoy the relative solitude. Roughly three hundred metres across the water I will see other photographers, fishermen and sightseers as the landing there is, conveniently, steps away from a parking lot.

What I count on is that at least one egret will make its way over to my side eventually. And, the sun goes down behind me meaning the light is normally very good.

The wait can be minutes or hours. But, to be honest, when egrets are on the pond I have never been disappointed. Besides, there is plenty to enjoy. Enormous carp leap from the water and kingfishers dive from nearby trees. Occasionally, a bald eagle might pass overhead.  Quite by accident last year, as I waited for an egret to arrive,  I spotted a black-capped night heron roosting on a low hanging tree branch barely twenty metres away.

On both Sunday and Monday nights I counted three egrets on the other side of the pond so I prepared my camera settings for the current light conditions and sat on the grass and waited. One of them flew towards me last night and came to a stop fairly close.

The approach of an egret.

The egret in landing mode.

On Sunday night I watched this one – possibly the same bird as last night – hunting nearby.

I have learned to anticipate sudden changes in position. They will fly a few metres to another spot. Or, abruptly turn 180 degrees. You can never take your eyes off them as they offer various unusual postures. They will stand perfectly still then lean forward when they target their prey and pounce with those long beaks.

After deftly juggling the fish to get it into the right position they swallow their prey whole. This one caught at least a dozen small fish in the hour I spent with it.

When they are come closer  I will remove the teleconverter on my camera. This device gives me more reach but is pointless –  unless I want to have a close up of the egret’s head – when the bird is right in front of me. The converter gives me a focal length of 700mm and I would likely clip the wings in any images if the bird flies at this range. My Nikon 500mm prime lens is enough.  

One of dozens of small fish this egret will eat each evening.

Later in the summer there will be more of them on this pond. Indeed, I counted 24 there a couple of times in August last year. And, with blue heron numbers also increasing, the pond will be crowded. That’s when the conflicts start as each bird claims what they deem to be the best fishing location. Then they chase each other about.

After an hour of fishing in front of me this egret flew to another location.  I would return the following day.

Spending time next to a river or pond brings me relaxation. And having the opportunity to  photograph such a beautiful species as the great egret is especially rewarding. 

                                                                                                 -30-