Visitors 81
Modified 21-Dec-23
Created 6-Mar-18
43 photos
A car makes a great blind. Pausing on the road out of the Sun Research Station, I watch a great egret hunting in the grasslands. It catches and devours a western fence lizard, AKA blue-belly lizard.
THANKS, Philippe Cohen, Brooke Fabricant, and iNaturalist contributors for the ID! Philippe and Brooke caught a flash of blue to confirm the ID. Sorry, newts were on my brain, I had recently seen some.
Like other birds, great egrets can keep their heads stationary while they move other parts of their body. We watch a curious snaking movement of the neck, as well as a careful stalking walk.
A strong spring wind occasionally ruffles the bird's feathers, but it remains intent on the hunt.
