Waders on Wednesday-Preening Snowy Egret

Today's Wader on Wednesday comes from my trip to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm rookery last March.  I'm hoping to get down there the second week of June this year after school finishes.  Roseate Spoonbills have nested there for the first time this year (I think a northern breeding record) and the chicks should have recently hatched by then.

This image was taken in the late afternoon sunlight as this snowy egret (Egretta thula) preened itself after a territorial squabble.  At this point in the season the snowies were prospecting nest sites and roosting at the rookery, but had not actually begun nesting yet.  Enjoy!