This male great egret was returning to his nest when I took this shot. Typically, egrets in flight tuck their heads back against their shoulders. During landings, they extend their necks, drop their feet, and form a huge basket with their wings to catch air and slow their speed. Taken in High Island, Texas, at the Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Rookery with the Nikon D4 and 800mm f5.6 Nikkor.
