Great Egret Touching Down on a Tárcoles Sandbar

The egret lands upright at the water's edge with black legs lowered, neck extended and wings opened into a bright white shield at Tárcoles River in Costa Rica. The long yellow bill, black legs, serpentine neck and all-white plumage identify the Great Egret; breeding birds grow ornamental back plumes. The exposure of 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 and ISO 200 holds the flight posture and major feather groups sharply while leaving restrained motion in the quickest wing tips; the photograph was made in natural light without flash.