A Great Egret Stalks Snacks at the Rattray Marsh

Recently, near the end of May, I had the pleasure of watching a Great Egret stalking through the waters of the Rattray Marsh in Mississauga. I saw it catch three fish and one piece of wood. (It declined to eat the wood!)

Watching a Great Egret Hunting for Food

Unlike the Great Blue Herons that I’ve watched, the Great Egret seems to lift its head on a tall, fairly straight neck frequently when hunting. This pose gave me a good idea of just how far it could reach if it needed to.

Photo of Great Egret Straight on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Searching for something worth catching.

Photo of Great Egret Curve On NaturalCrooksDotCom
Drawing back after the range and location is fixed.

Photo of Great Egret Arch On NaturalCrooksDotCom
Tightening the “elastic” for the swift strike.

Photo of Great Egret Lunge on NaturalCrooksDotComThe lunge.

Photo of Great Egret Fish on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Success!

Photo of Great Egret Fish Rattray May on NaturalCrooksDotCom
The prize: a fresh fish.

Photo of Great Egret Gulp on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Gulp.

I enjoyed this glimpse into the normal behaviour of a bird. I hope to get another chance to watch one on another visit!

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