I don't know how unusual this may be - maybe it's common. I don't see
many Great Egrets, so I'll post it just in case.
Yesterday 06 July I saw a Great Egret on the Virginia shore of the
Potomac, at the eastern (downstream) edge of Algonkian Regional Park
in Loudoun County. If you go out from the boat launch towards the
Maryland side, there is a larger island upstream and a smaller island
downstream. The bird was on the Virginia shore, facing the center of
the smaller (downstream) island.
The egret was slowly foraging in shallow water just a foot or two from
shore.
There were many Great Blue Herons along the river as usual, and a
single Mute Swan swimming near the egret. A bit further downstream (I
was kayaking) there was a perched Osprey on the Virginia side and an
adult Bald Eagle flew over the river into the trees on the Maryland
side.
A Cedar Waxwing flycatching over the island in mid-stream would be a
Maryland sighting, right?
- Steve Johnson
Fairfax, VA
