The yellow on the feet is largely restricted to the toes. The lores are paler than the iris. This bird has one well-defined lanceolated head plume. Another Little Egret again photographed in January in Kyushu, Japan. It is unclear whether the pale markings around the 'knee' joints represent aberrant coloration or patches of dried mud.
Many European breeders migrate south across the Sahara to winter in equatorial Africa.
The European origins are confirmed by the recovery of at least two individuals banded as nestlings in Spain. For a detailed treatment of variation in both Little and Snowy Egret check out Martin Reid's fantastic series of web pages that highlight a problematic bird studied in Texas. Acknowledgements Thanks to Andy Guthrie for discussion of this bird. Bare-part colour of Snowy and Little Egrets. 27 Aug 1997.