Photographing Snowy Egrets in Louisiana

Snowy Egret Courship Display

Snowy Egrets (Egretta thula) are elegant, medium-sized wading birds known for their striking white plumage, black legs, and contrasting yellow feet. Louisiana provides excellent opportunities to photograph these birds, particularly during nesting and courtship when they display their most spectacular plumage and behavior.

Where to Find Snowy Egrets in Louisiana

Snowy Egrets are common in Louisiana’s wetlands, marshes, and coastal estuaries. They can be found in both freshwater and brackish environments, foraging in shallow water. Some of the best locations to photograph them include:

  • Miller’s Lake – A prime nesting location for Snowy Egrets, particularly during the breeding season when they gather in large colonies.

  • Rip’s Rookery (Jefferson Island) – A well-known spot for nesting wading birds, including Snowy Egrets, during spring and early summer.

  • Avery Island – The rookeries here attract large numbers of wading birds, and Snowy Egrets can be seen actively feeding and interacting.

Snowy Egrets Courting

Nesting and Courtship Behavior

During breeding season, Snowy Egrets develop long, wispy plumes on their backs, which were once highly sought after by the plume trade. These elegant feathers, along with their bright red facial skin and striking yellow feet, make them stunning photographic subjects.

Courtship displays include:

  • Stretching and bill snapping – Males perform elaborate head and neck movements to attract a mate.

  • Plume fluffing – They raise their delicate back plumes to appear larger and more impressive.

  • Nest building – Males select a nesting site and start gathering sticks, which they offer to the female for construction.

Identifying Adults vs. Juveniles

  • Adults – Pure white plumage, black legs, bright yellow feet, and a black bill with a yellow base that turns reddish during breeding.

  • Juveniles – Similar to adults but often have lighter, greenish legs instead of black. Their yellow feet may not be as pronounced.

Photographing Snowy Egrets

Snowy Egret Taking Off

Snowy Egrets are active and graceful, providing dynamic photo opportunities. Capturing them successfully requires attention to lighting, exposure, and behavior.

Best Camera Settings

  • Metering Mode: Manual metering is preferred for full control over exposure, especially in bright conditions where white plumage can easily overexpose.

  • Shutter Speed: 1/1600s or faster to freeze motion, especially when they are in flight or actively foraging.

  • Aperture: f/5.6 to f/8 for a balance of sharpness and background blur.

  • ISO: Start at ISO 400 and adjust based on light conditions.

Exposure Considerations: Manual vs. Exposure Compensation

Exposure can be tricky with Snowy Egrets due to their bright white plumage, which can easily be overexposed. This is why I prefer using manual exposure, carefully monitoring the histogram and watching for blinking highlight warnings to prevent blown-out whites.

If using aperture or shutter priority, you will need to adjust exposure compensation based on the size of the bird in the frame and the background:

  • If the egret is small in the frame with a dark background, you’ll need negative exposure compensation (-EV) to prevent overexposure.

  • If the egret is large in the frame or against a bright background (such as sky or water reflections), you’ll need positive exposure compensation (+EV) to prevent the bird from appearing too dark.

These adjustments can be difficult to judge in fast-changing conditions, which is why manual exposure, combined with histogram monitoring, is often the most reliable approach.

Lighting Considerations

  • Morning and Evening Light – Soft golden light enhances the details of the plumes and prevents harsh shadows.

  • Overcast Days – Ideal for even exposure without worrying about blown highlights.

Behavior to Watch For

  • Hunting and Fishing – Snowy Egrets use their bright yellow feet to stir up prey in the water. Capturing them in action makes for dynamic compositions.

  • Takeoffs and Landings – These moments provide incredible shots of their wings fully extended.

  • Courtship Displays – Their expressive movements and interactions make for engaging images.

Final Thoughts

Photographing Snowy Egrets in Louisiana can be highly rewarding, especially in their nesting colonies at Miller’s Lake, Rip’s Rookery, and Avery Island. Paying close attention to metering, exposure, and behavior will help you capture stunning images of these graceful birds. Whether photographing them in flight, fishing, or during courtship, they make incredible subjects for any wildlife photographer.

Snowy Egret Preening