I was looking for a different way to present these photographs. The usual format here, a story line, didn’t have much to tie them together. So, I collected a few ‘portraits’ to publish. A simple solution.

Above, the first is a Snowy Egret with just a little of the breeding colors left. The yellow ‘lore’ by the bill has lost it’s deep orange.

I have read that the Snowy loses breeding colors faster than most any other bird. Given how flamboyant they are all year long it’s probably no big deal.

Just the opposite colors is the Roseate Spoonbill. They do get neon each spring, however they are never what could be called subtle any time during the year.

The Tricolored Heron here is in full breeding mode. The rusty sheen and flowing head feathers are much more pronounced. They start to get a more consistent color end of summer.

Last is the Little Blue Heron. Always a dark blue bird, the head and shoulders take on a magenta/purple look each spring. Also that vivid color beak turns a general dark shade.

Note; I started out to publish straight forward portraits. Somewhere as I looked at the photographs things took a different turn. Blame it on these wading birds and their spring outfits.