Family of Egrets in Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve #Wetlands #Egret #Nature #Wildlife

A shot of a family of Reddish Egret with Snowy Egrets against the waters. #NoEgret #Heron The Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) is a medium-sized heron of the family Ardeidae, native to the saltwater coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and the southern U.S. It comes in two color morphs — a common dark morph (slate-gray body with a cinnamon head and neck) and a rarer all-white morph — both with cobalt-blue legs and a distinctive two-toned pink-and-black bill. Size: 27–32 in long, 46–49 in wingspan, about 1–2 lb. Habitat: Almost exclusively coastal — tidal flats, lagoons, mangroves, and salt marshes. Behavior: Famous for its energetic foraging "dance," running, hopping, and flicking its wings to corner small fish and crustaceans in shallow water. The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a small, all-white heron of the Americas, instantly recognizable by its slender black bill, black legs, and bright yellow feet (its "golden slippers"). It measures 22–26 inches (56–66 cm) long with a ~39-inch (100 cm) wingspan and weighs about 13 ounces (370 g). Snowy Egrets are smaller (22–26 inches) with an all-black bill, black legs, and bright yellow feet, whereas Reddish Egrets (30 inches) are larger with dark gray or white plumage and a distinctive two-toned pink-and-black bill. The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is one of the largest remaining saltwater marshes on the California coast, a 1,400-acre protected wetland in Orange County just south of Huntington Beach. Established in 1979 and managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, it protects a tidal estuary, mudflats, salt and freshwater marshes, coastal dunes, and riparian woodland — a critical stopover for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway. ~200–320 bird species recorded, including endangered light-footed rail, snowy plover, and California least tern; designated an Important Birding Area by Audubon. Trails: ~5 miles of flat, decomposed-granite paths (e.g., the 2.9-mile loop, 4.5-mile full circuit) connecting two free parking lots at 3842 Warner Ave (north) and 18000 Pacific Coast Hwy (south) The estuary was dammed in 1899 and only reconnected to the Pacific in 2006 after a $147 million restoration; WWII gun emplacements from Fort MacArthur remain on site. The reserve's flat, scenic trails and abundant wildlife — herons, pelicans, and shorebirds against the marsh — make it a top birding and photography destination in Southern California #Marsh __________ Shot with a ‪@PanasonicLumixVideo‬ VX3 #Panasonic #Lumix #Camcorder #Camcorders Shots with ‪@XTRATech_Official‬ MUSE coming soon! Get your own XTRA Muse here https://pboost.me/E4I4BdQa?uid=Bodaci... __________ #Xtra #XtraMuse2 #XTRAMuse2Pro Get into the Xtra World with this Link https://tinyurl.com/Bodacious-Riffs-XTRA