Reddish Egret Duck

[Linwood Ferguson]

http://captivephotons.com/Nature/Ding-Darling/Reddish-Egret-Duck-3/921961441_V7Zz8-XL.jpg

This was far away and a tight crop and not a good picture, but I was fascinated to see an Egret down in the water like a duck. I never could tell for sure if he was floating (can they?) or standing in water just that deep.

Seemed odd to me, is this common?

[John Chardine]

Hi Linwood- I have seen herons "swimming" and I seem to remember at least one post on BPN showing this behaviour. Is there a chance that the bird is wading with its feet on the bottom?

[Linwood Ferguson]

Hi Linwood- I have seen herons "swimming" and I seem to remember at least one post on BPN showing this behaviour. Is there a chance that the bird is wading with its feet on the bottom?

Yes, very possible, this was near a sandbar. Far enough away I could not say for sure.

[Chris Sloan]

I have seen both Black-crowned Night-Herons and Great Blue Herons swimming on multiple occasions, and in most cases it was very apparent that they were not touching bottom.