Major White Airplane

Great White Egrets, Ardea alba, are impressive birds. They’re much bigger than a Grey Heron and stunning in flight. Just look at this one:

Great White Egret - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I love to see them arrive at the lake. We’re at Lago di Alviano, one of my favourite places. The light is fabulous and reveals the structure of their flight feathers perfectly:

Great White Egret - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

As one takes off it extends its neck. I’ve never seen anything like it before:

Great White Egret - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I suspect there’s a fish in the middle of that neck. It’s a long way to its stomach.

I’m pleased with my photos so I decide to post one on the Facebook group for the lake. I use my best Italian and type Airone bianco maggiore, the Italian name of the Great White Egret. Facebook translates this into English for me and instead of Great White Egret, it thinks what I’ve written is Major White Airplane.

It’s not far wrong.

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