Egret's Plumes Reflected

Today we headed back to the Scamandre area, where I blipped this fluffed grey heron last week. The pickings were even a bit more meagre today, aside from a Cetti's Warbler and a Bearded Reedling, both small birds seen fleetingly at a distance (though both are special!).

But on our walk around the Scamandre nature reserve (the link is totally French) yielded this shot of a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)--very similar to the North American Snowy Egret. It is breeding season, and so the egret displays these delicate feathers behind its neck--not always easy to see.

It was for such feathers that these birds were mercilessly hunted, to decorate ladies hats, until the early 20th century. In North America, at least, some species were hunted to near extinction.