Egretta thula

Egretta thula is one bird you can hope to see in any type of water environment--lake, river, salt-marsh, bay, or ocean shore. The Snowy Egret is a versatile hunter, utilizing numerous habitats in an effort to survive. A target of the plume trade of the late 1800's, this delicately feathered bird suffered severely, but rebounded substantially after the induction of protective legislation. Now it faces hard times again at the hands of wetland destruction.

Easily overlooked, Egretta thula is a quiet and resilient gem of the bird world.

I was perplexed to find this little guy at the beach today. I've seen plenty of Snowy Egrets in marshes, but never in the ocean. It's funny; you can think you know everything about a bird you've seen over and over, but they can still surprise you. I'm glad it's that way.