GBH - White Morph

bret · June 18, 2009

We have a rare visitor in our fair city (Chattanooga, TN) over by the dam.

It is a white morph of the Great Blue Heron, also knowm as the Great
White Heron. These are common in Florida, but the folks who know about
these things say that this is the first one reported in Tennessee.

Note that these shouldn't be confused with the Snowy Egret (Great
Egret) which has dark legs and feet.

I went over and took a few shots of this special bird yesterday
morning.

canon 5D2, 400 f/5.6L

IraRunyan · June 18, 2009

Outstanding job documenting that rare visit to ypur state. The white Morph GBH is not common in all of Florida, just in the extream southern part of the state and the keys. We did have the pleasure of one visiting the Viera Wetlands about a year ago, but that is rare in Brevard County.

Your photography is fantastic.........

JustPlainMe · June 18, 2009

:ivar Those are amazing shots! Such a beautiful bird.

I had to look on Wiki to figure out the differences. I have shot the great white egret here in Louisiana several times, and when I read your post, I wondered about the difference.

The great white egret is also called the great white heron, but it is, in fact, not the snowy egret (the great white is much larger) and is not the GBH morph. I wouldn't have thought to look at the legs!

I will keep an eye out for these birds, maybe I'll spot one!

Great series.

hTr · June 18, 2009

We had one Here in Huntsville, Al. Last Year which was quite Rare!!!

Here is a Picture I took

Maestro · June 19, 2009

Spectacular images of the rarity. I captured some images of one visiting the Rockport, Texas area back in January but nothing as good as yours. Well done.