Snowy egrets (Egretta thula), at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Rio Salado project is a literal oasis, just a few miles from the skyscrapers of downtown Phoenix. Much of the wetland habitat here relies on “nuisance” sources of supply, diverting runoff from stormwater outfalls to the streambed, and to a series of constructed ponds.
In one of the wet spots I found a congregation of a dozen egrets and herons, all of which took flight as I walked by. They wheeled about a bit, then settled back to their wading and feeding.
Dithyramb 