Egrets roosting in Oakdale tree

For about the past month, at least, dozens of cattle egrets have been flying to a large pine tree at West F Street and Oak Avenue in Oakdale at sunset to roost each evening.

“This heron does very well in our Central Valley’s highly agricultural lands, especially around dairies and recently plowed fields where bugs and other insects are a primary food source,” said Eric Hopson, assistant manager for the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge.

He said the species is originally native to parts of Africa and Asia. “It is believed to have made its way to South and North America after being blown across the Atlantic Ocean in a hurricane,” Hopson said.

Compared with other herons, cattle egrets are small and compact, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website. “They have relatively short legs and a short, thick neck,” the site says. “The straight, daggerlike bill is shorter and thicker than other herons. They have medium-length, broad, rounded wings.

“Adult cattle egrets are all white with a yellow bill and legs. In breeding plumage, they have golden plumes on their head, chest, and back. Juveniles have dark legs and bill.

“Cattle egrets stalk insects and other small animals on the ground in grassy fields. They are much less often seen in water than other herons.”

This story was originally published November 11, 2014 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Egrets roosting in Oakdale tree."