Cattle Egret

Cattle Egrets still look faintly improbable from a British perspective, which is part of their appeal. This photograph was made in Valencia under flat, overcast light, where the pale plumage and clean shape stood out beautifully. They are not especially dramatic birds, but they have a neatness and clarity that makes them very satisfying to photograph. Sometimes a species does not need to do much; it just needs the conditions to let its shape and colour speak for themselves.