073 Great (aka Great White) Egret
(Egretta alba )
Identification
85-100cm. The Great (aka Great White) Egret is a very big heron. Almost the size of Grey Heron but a shade more elegant with its dazzlingly white plumage. It has very long and slim neck, and long yellow bill. Its legs are blackish or dull yellow mainly above joint. Upon flying its long legs and arched wings can be seen.
Description
In Hungary the Great Egret is fairly common breeder in colonies of varying size in marshlands and on the fishponds of Transdanubia and the Great Plain. The population is increasing, the most important colonies are in Hortobágy. Migrant. Usually occurs in Hungary from February until early December, though tends to overwinter with increasing frequency.
-Egret-(Egretta-alba).JPG "073 Great (aka Great White) Egret (Egretta alba )")
Source: 1) Lovászi Péter (editor): Javasolt különleges madárvédelmi területek Magyarországon, Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület, 2002; 2) BirdLife International:IUCN Red List for birds. Species factsheet; 3) Králl Attila, Nagy Károly: Fontos Madárélőhelyek Magyarországon (Területek, kritériumok és minősítő fajok) MME Monitoring Központ, 2007; 4) Szabolcs Kókay bird illustrations; 5) www.hungarianbirdwatching.com bird descriptions and checklists, 2004-2012; 6) Lars Svensson et al.: Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe 2nd Edition, Harper Collins, 2010; 7) MME Nomenclator Bizottság: Nomenclator avium Hungariae. An annotated list of the birds of Hungary. Magyar Madártani és Természetvédelmi Egyesület, 2008