Great Egret

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Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_8208 20230903 - non-breeding plumage; remarkably long neck. CLICK to see another,
transitioning, 20180208.

Notes: Largest white heron, w. long slender neck (obvious kink near middle). A slow flight w. neck
retracted, unlike ibises etc. Gape line extends behind eye (cf Plumed Egret). Adult breeding: long
scapular plumes, black tip to bill, briefly all-black; lores change from yellow to green. Feeds singly
by wading and spearing prey. Nests in wetland trees, often in large noisy mixed colonies.

Range from Morcombe & Stewart^©

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_5926 20200401 - adult breeding plumage: black tip to bill, long filmy plumes in scapulars.
CLICK: 20200405 - bill briefly becomes all-black w. grey lores."

Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_3606 20210531 - adult non-breeding: orangy bill. Very long kinked neck.

IMG_2141 Freshwater Lake, Centennary Lakes, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_9314 20230906 - caught a fish. Gape line
extends behind eye. CLICK for another head view, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic 20170513.

Cairns North Foreshore, FN Qld IMG_6673...6679 20180303 - swallowing a fish.

De Moleyns Lagoon, Mirani, NE Qld IMG_1885 20200809 - Adult w. Little Black Cormorant.

Foreshore, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_4001 20240413 - Adults.

Edge Hill, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_7151 20200415 - in flight, neck hunched, legs project far beyond tail.

Cairns, Lockhart River, FNE Qld IMG_5361+1567+6373.JPG 20190221 20191211 20180228

Longreach Waterhole, Elliott, NT IMG_1213 20180718. CLICK for another landing, Foreshore, Cairns, FNE Qld, 20240419.

Foreshore, Karumba Point, FN Qld IMG_5376 20200620

Freshwater Lake, Centennial Lakes, Cairns North, FNE Qld MVI_5651 20231011

Cairns North Foreshore, FN Qld MVI_8721 20190724