Hunter on the rocks

So nice to have another free theme for this week's SMAP! Plus, I end up normally posting at the deadline, so joining in on the fun so early is the perfect way to start the week.

Without further ado, let me present another species I saw for the first time, in my last vacations:

^{Pacific reef heron - Egretta sacra}

I spotted her for the first time in El Nido, Palawan - an island on the Phillipines. I was walking along the beach when I saw her not far from the boats, scouting the waters.

Fortunately, after a couple of minutes, she flew closer, allowing me a better look; too bad the photo still looks crap.

It's a fairly easy heron to identify (normally, and I'll explain why in a moment), medium sized bird, with dark gray plummage and yellowish legs; the big golden eyes stand out as well:

What I didn't knew and found out while researching about this species, is that there are two different forms! A dark gray one, like the one I saw, and a white one! Hence the "normally" easy to identify, since when I look as a white heron with yellow feet I immediatly think on the common little egret (Egretta garzetta); nevertheless, there are enough changes in the leg coloration and beak size and shape to make an easy distinction with a more attentive look.

It's an elegant hunter for sure, although all egrets are more or less "guilty" on this characteristic; she didn't roamed too close, but it was close enough to see all the stealth poses and some attempts to catch some lunch.

I enjoyed the show as she moved further and further away, since there was a lot of shallow water to cover from the coast line, and I can imagine that in the low tide there was plenty of life in those crevices.

I got a little frustrated when I saw the photos back home, since I was expecting a lot better quality; but hey... it's always a good excuse to go back and snap a few more shots! ;)

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Herons are amazing. Such graceful creatures. One of just a handful of bird species that I could enjoy watching both in the tropics as well as here in my cold Central European homeland :)

@tipu curate 4

Thank you! Indeed they are; love these medium dark grey ones, saw similar ones in São Tomé. Too bad we don't have them here... althought I don't mind travelling to see them! ;) !BBH

Nice shots 👍 I have many shots of herons from California and egrets. Seems there was a white one but maybe egrets 🤔

Next time I'm in these latitudes I'll be sure to check them more carefully, at first glance I tended to dismiss all the white ones; now I know better!

Such a cool bird. Awesome with the in-flight photo that shows the enormous wings!

I always get frustrated with the semi-blurred photos... should probably invest in a better camera! (Or improve my skills! :)))

A good hunter, it's a pity he's far away.

He came close enough! ;)

The bird is black but awesome . I never see the birds in our area . Amazing photography

Herons are so funny with their yellow feet, but still they are elegant and so interesting to watch.
Great choice of bird to present for this round.

Espetacular essa garça real do Pacífico! Mais um "cromo" dos bons para a tua lista de avistamentos! Pena não teres levado os teus binóculos, ou levaste?

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