Pensive Beauty

The Great Egret is all dressed up in long nuptial plumage called aigrettes. The lacy delicate feathers grow from their shoulders during breeding season for both male and female. The lore, that is the skin between the eyes and the bill, usually yellow has turned neon bright lime green and the yellow upper bill has turned very dark now.
Great Egrets are generally considered seasonally monogamous, meaning they form strong pair bonds to mate and raise young for one specific breeding season. While some sources suggest they may reunite in subsequent years, they do not strictly mate for life in the way some other bird species do.

Nikon mirrorless. 180-600mm, 600mm

crop tightly, slight shadow highlights contrast Photoshop, Franzis