Now that backyard birding has settled down considerably and will be slower for a couple of months you might consider taking your binoculars and looking for some birds that can be seen with a little effort, especially if you spend some time near water. Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and areas that temporarily collect water after hard rains are a great source of birdwatching for shorebirds on the move.
A shorebird that can be seen with regularity between August and early October is the Great Egret. This white heron at 38” in length is not quite as big as a Great Blue Heron, which can be as long as 50”, but an impressive bird nonetheless. It’s all white plumage makes this bird stand out from great distances but be sure to look through binoculars to see its heavy yellow bill and black legs. The population of this bird was greatly reduced by “plume hunters” at the turn of the century but is now recovered and its range is now apparently expanding.
Great Egrets hunt very similarly to the GB Heron stalking prey on edges of or in shallow water, catching fish, frogs, and insects.
This is just one of the many birds that are now migrating through TN. Be sure and bring your binoculars along with any of your outdoor plans. Good birdwatching opportunities can happen wherever you may be. Have a good weekend.