08/27/2026
Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens) are very active, animated hunters. They run, hop, jump, and 'dance' in pursuit of small fish in the shallow waters of Bolsa Chica. You will often see them "canopy feed" where they create an umbrella over their heads with their wings outstretched. Besides their behavior, Reddish Egrets are medium sized birds with rusty red necks and head and slate gray bodies here at Bolsa Chica. Their bills are two-toned in color, and they have rather adorable shaggy looking head and neck feathers making them look grumpy at times.
Reddish Egrets, like Yellow-crowned Night Herons, are normally found on the South-eastern coast of USA, but are also found up and down the coasts of Baja California. With that said, some individuals have decided to make Bolsa Chica their permanent home. The first record was in 1981, but it wasn't until the late 2000s that the number of sightings steadily increased. Today the loss of salt marshes to development is their biggest threat. Reddish Egrets’ natural habitats are coastal salt marshes. Look for them hunting in the bays during low tide, just look for the dancing bird. Have you ever seen a person accidentally step on a minefield of Legos? Yeah, it kind of looks like that.
📷️ Susan Perez
