Absolutely gorgeous pictures, Joyce and Tom!! I agree with John that these are National Geographic quality.

I was just reading about egret plumes in an Outer Banks history. It seems that, in the late 1800's, hunters were killing terns and egrets, so they could sell the plumes to millinery firms. Fortunately, the Audubon Society came to their rescue.

Thanks for sharing your superb pictures! Where did you find such beautiful birds?