Great Egret, Cape May NJ, 4 October 2009

I was standing on the hawkwatch platform near the lighthouse at Cape May, New Jersey, a few days ago, when this bird emerged out of the fog — a Great White Egret, from the Great Whiteout. There were no migrating raptors about.

(*I grew up calling this bird the Great White Egret. Now most people just call it the Great Egret, Ardea alba.)