This European/Asian visitor had been reported in the marsh on the west side of Ocean Street at Kalmus Beach in Hyannis. With much appreciation for those posting to MassBird, I arrived at the spot at about 12:15 to find Steve Grinley and Margo Goetschkes on the bird, and after awhile Bob Stymeist arrived having just seen and photographed the Lapwing in snow in Bridgewater - an exotic daily double for him! At about 1:00pm it took flight, circled the west edge of the marsh and then flew off to the northwest probably to another pond or marsh in the Hyannis area.

These photos were taken under cloudy skies between 12:15-12:45. For purposes of differentiation with Snowy Egret they document the grey lores, light yellow feet, dark but not black legs with yellow in various spots largely confined to the back of the legs (apparently indicative of young birds of both species), a hint of the two plumes. Generally the appearance of a somewhat thicker neck and more substantial bill gave a marginally less refined feel than one gets from the Snowys I'm used to seeing. The bird was actively feeding and occasionally flying short distances in the marsh.