A Great Egret returned to Inwood Hill Park over the weekend, an expected homecoming for one of the stars of the park’s Salt Marsh.
I have lived in the Inwood neighborhood for over a decade, and I’ve observed at least one Great Egret every year. Sometimes, more of them will appear, but often it’s just one.
Two years ago, I observed two Great Egrets arriving on March 24. Only one remained at the marsh. Last year, I observed one Great Egret for the first time on March 17 (March 2024 sightings).
This Great Egret arrived essentially the same time as last year. I was not the first birder to observe it, but I did enjoy my first time seeing it this season.
It was early Sunday morning. The Salt Marsh was shrouded in fog. I caught a glimpse of it from far away across the marsh. I had been expecting a Great Egret to arrive, but its apparition still seemed miraculous. The whole scene looked like a painting.
Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron
The Great Egret was not the only heron to arrive at the Salt Marsh this past weekend. A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron showed up a day or two before. I caught it flying across the water and then landing in a tree. See related earlier post, Becoming a Black-crowned Night Heron.
Sightings March 2025
The March 2025 sightings page is a good place to check for the latest birds between blog posts. I’ve seen more Red-breasted Mergansers, too, like this male merganser below. When will a Great Blue Heron join the crowd? Stay tuned.
Recent posts
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- Fall Birding Falls Into Place: Notable Birds of Inwood During Mid-October
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