Thursday's Bird Watch!

While driving through Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge on Smithfield Road last week, we came across this Great Egret in a private pond just across the road from the entrance to Van Duzer Vineyards.  Great Egrets are about the same size as the much more common Great Blue Heron, but easily identified by pure white plumage.  Two smaller egrets, the Cattle Egret and the Snowy Egret are not normally seen in this part of Oregon.  It is only in recent decades that the Great Egret can now be seen here in the Willamette Valley year around.  In addition to being spotted in the shallow water of our ponds and rivers, they can also be seen on bare field "mousing".