Thursday's Bird Watch

This is a Great Heron, photographed in nearby Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge on August 29th. Great Egrets are about the same size as our more common Great Blue Heron. In the last several decades the range of the Great Egret has moved north, and they can now be seen year-round here in Western Oregon. They can easily be seen from Coville Road at what is known as The Narrows. This year their numbers are the highest I can remember with as many as two dozen at a time. Of course, early morning is the best time to see the most birds there.