During the breeding season, adult Great egrets have extra-long plumes, called aigrettes. They use these long plumes for courtship displays. The males perform most of these displays, including sky pointing (where they stretch their necks out and point their heads to the sky). In addition to the gorgeous, long plumes that they grow early in the breeding season, the Great egret's lore’s (the skin near the eye and base of the bill) change color from yellow to a vibrant lime green. When I see a Great egret with juiced up lore’s and a veil of long plumes, I go crazy. Until last week, I have been unsuccessful in capturing this beautiful display without a boat load of nest sticks covering the bird’s display.
At Wakodahatchee last week, when Donna and I brought our groups, I saw several Great egret nests and plenty of courtship displays. However, it was the very first shot that I took as soon as I entered the boardwalk area that caught my eye. It was just as the sun was rising and the nest was fairly dark. I kept the nest a bit on the dark side in post to help the bird pop a bit. Full disclosure I did clone that token “Murphy’s Law” twig that covered a small part of the bird. Still, I’m tickled pink to have this image.