Published by Joey Ciaramitaro
The creator of goodmorninggloucester.org Lover of all things Gloucester and Cape Ann. GMG where we bring you the very best our town has to offer because we love to share all the great news and believe that by promoting others in our community everyone wins.
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Good Morning Gloucester 
Wonderful pix! Thanks SO much. Lifts the heart.
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If I’m not mistaken, these are the egrets termed “Great American Egrets” for many years, now just Great Egrets. Anyone else know? These guys find me everywhere I go. They’re very good at describing how to live. Enjoy the day, get home at a decent hour. I hope a local ornithologist can pinpoint the identification. Thanks for the snaps. They’re Great!
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nice!
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Not an ornithologist, however Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) is correct.
“Since the turn of the (previous) century, when this species was nearly exterminated in North America by the plume hunters of the millinery trade, the Great Egret has increased steadily in number. During the first half of the (20th) century, Great Egrets were occasionally seen in Massachusetts during the late summer and fall and were presumably post-breeding dispersal birds. In 1954, a pair nested in a cedar swamp in South Hanson. Since then they have nested in small numbers at scattered locations along the coast.” Mass Audubon
Follow this link to the super helpful Mass Audubon Breeding Bird Atlas http://www.massaudubon.org/birdatlas/bba1/allbirds.php
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Thanks very much. The Mass Audubon link is a huge resource. We’ve also seen Black Crowned Night Heron right down on the waterfront on the blvd. The nightly migration of Great Egrets out to Eastern Point is something to behold. There are lots of birds that seem to travel from the river toward most likely Niles Pond for a peaceful night’s sleep. The audubon link answered bunches of questions. Thanks again.
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