Egret
       Egrets are about 60–70 cm in length, entirely white in color, with yellow lores, pale yellow irises, and black legs and feet. During the breeding season, their plumage features shaggy ornamental feathers on the back and lower front of the neck, along with an inconspicuous crest at the back of the head. Their bills are black. They inhabit and frequent rivers, lakes, rice paddies, coastal areas, and shallow waters around ponds. They are often seen alone, in pairs, or in small groups, and sometimes also mingle with other heron species. They are naturally timid and will fly away when they spot humans from a distance. When flying, they tuck their necks into an “S” shape, stretch their legs straight back, extending beyond the tail, and flap their wings slowly, gliding smoothly and often flying in a straight line. Their diet mainly consists of small fish, shrimp, frogs, locusts, mole crickets, and other small animals. The intermediate egret is a summer visitor in southern China, though some remain to overwinter.
[attach]1994434[/attach]
       That snow-white plumage, the streamlined form of its body, the iron-like long bill, and the slate-blue feet — add one bit and it seems too long, take one bit away and it seems too short; make it a shade whiter and it seems too pale, a shade darker and it seems too black.
[attach]1994435[/attach]
    The occasional sight of an egret gliding low in the evening sky is a blessing in rural life. It becomes a personification of clarity, infused with life.
[attach]1994436[/attach]

[attach]1994439[/attach]

[attach]1994441[/attach]
    In the clear waters of the stream, one or two egrets often stand fishing, turning the entire river into a picture framed in glass. The size of the river seems designed by some thoughtful hand as a mirror case for the egrets.
[attach]1994507[/attach]

[attach]1994477[/attach]
Heron catching a dragonfly: in flight, snatching a dragonfly
[attach]1994434[/attach]
Caught one
[attach]1994446[/attach]

[attach]1994449[/attach]
    On clear mornings, you’ll often see it standing alone atop the highest branch of a small tree. Though it may seem unsteady, it is actually quite at ease. This is a kind of behavior rarely exhibited by other birds. People say it’s keeping watch, but is it really?
[attach]1994490[/attach]
   Some might find beauty lacking because the egret does not sing. But isn’t the egret itself a beautiful song?
[attach]1994478[/attach]

[attach]1994489[/attach]

[attach]1994520[/attach]

[attach]1994521[/attach]
Fish-catching process