I call this shot Welcome Home because it shows a female great egret welcoming her mate upon his return to their nest. I watched them for the better part of an hour as he returned time and again with sticks to help build their nest. Even though he might have only been away for a few minutes, she always gave him a big welcome. She extended her neck, bristled her feathers, and opened her beak as if to say Hello. He spread his wings in a show of dominance to the other nesting pairs around them. Taken in the Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas, on 4/20/14 with the Nikon D4 and 800mm lens.