Rare Southern Wanderer Visits Creek 53
On August 20th of this year Creek 53 welcomed a rare visitor to its marshy areas as a Snowy Egret (Aigrette neigeuse/ Egretta thula) descended out of an overcast sky for an extended stay. While sightings of Great Egrets have been common in recent decades as that species pushes its breeding range northward, their smaller cousins are still rare visitors in Québec.
This summer only five Snowy Egrets were reported to the eBird citizen science project for the whole province. (The observation dates listed cannot rule out the possibility that at least some of these sightings may have been the same bird as it wandered about.) Luckily, this one seemed to like what it found to eat in our marshes and remained in the area until September 10th.
As word spread of its presence on various rare bird social media networks, more and more birders came to view it. At least 80 caught glimpses of the celebrity and marked it on their eBird checklists while many others simply enjoyed the sighting without making official notes. All visitors respectively remained on the abandoned railroad tracks so as not to disturb their target bird or the other wildlife of the Creek 53 wetlands.
Snowy Egret is described as a small white heron with black bill, black legs and yellow feet. Its diminutive stature is evident when seen in a side-by-side comparisons with a Great Egret. Snowy Egrets top out at 60 cm tall (24 in) whereas Great Egrets may reach more than 100 cm (40 in). Individuals in breeding plumage are adorned with long white plumes and reddish lores (the area of skin between the bill and eye). Non-breeding individuals and juveniles lack the special elongated feathers and have yellow lores but are still beautiful if somewhat less showy.
The species is common on the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States although that was not always the case. In the late 1800’s its numbers were decimated by plume hunters supplying feathers to the fashion industry. Snowy Egret’s current range also stretches throughout most of Central and South America and may be expanding northwards.
Snowy Egret showing off its yellow feet
Snowy Egret (left). Size comparison with Great Egret and Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret with Great Blue Heron in background
Snowy Egret with Mallard in background and Blue-winged Teal in foreground
In terms of behaviour, Snowy Egrets tend to be more active hunters than their sedate larger relatives. They often perform a little dance with their feet, stirring up the water to disturb prey species. Occasionally they jump about erratically probably again attempting to make a fish, frog or tadpole panic and reveal its location. Interestingly, when our bird was resting, it often perched near one of the Great Egrets that were present. It is nice to anthropomorphize and say they were “buddies” but more likely the smaller bird was using the intimidating presence of the larger one for protection.
“Buddies”. Snowy Egret and Great Egret resting together
On the final afternoon of its visit the Snowy Egret was extremely active and flew about the marsh with more exuberance than it had showed since shortly after its arrival. Again, projecting human feelings onto a bird, it seemed to be having one last look around, maybe even saying good-bye to all its new friends. By the next morning it was nowhere to be found. Was it winging its way back south for the winter or simply continuing its post breeding wanderings? Perhaps the former is the case, as there have been no further sightings of Snowy Egrets anywhere in Québec this late summer/autumn.
Snowy Egret in flight on its final afternoon in the area
On a historical note, it was forty-three years ago that a Snowy Egret was lasted reported in the immediate Creek 53 area. That bird was seen from at least August 18th to August 21st, 1981. We hope the next individual of this special species does not wait that long to make an appearance.
Wayne Grubert
Creek 53 volunteer