Little Egret

There's a little egret in the creek this morning. In the winter this is not unusual, but at this time of year it is rare to see them here. Most of the year they are solitary, almost aggressively so, but at breeding time they all nest in the same tree. Their local colony is only visible if you happen to be passing along the Lynher by boat - from a distance it looks as though the trees are covered with big white (rather noisy) flowers.

I have often wondered about egrets' feet. Why are their feet bright yellow, the colour of sand in a child's paintbox, and their legs dark grey? Is it a disguise, so that on a sandy shore or riverbed they look like a couple of innocent reeds? If so, it isn't too effective in our muddy creek. Or do they wiggle their golden toes against the dark brown mud to attract little swimming things close enough to catch? I wonder...