Birders:

First, I am not an expert.

After reviewing the photos, and carefully reading Hancock et al, I am pretty
sure that the pictures by different photographers are of two different
Egrets.

Hancock recognizes 4 subspecies: "alba", "egretta", "modesta", and
"melanorhynchos". "egretta" and "melanorhynchos" apparently always have all
black legs. The European subspecies, alba has yellow tibia as in John
Riegsecker's shots, but in this non-breeding plumage would also have
greenish or yellowish soles of its feet. Leaving only the Asian subspecies
modesta, which fits the pictures well.

I think if the bird were molting into breeding plumage, any alba would also
be showing blackening of the bill from the tip back, turning all black
during courtship.

I consider John's bird a non-breeding Egretta alba modesta, provenance
unknown. Vagrancy of this subspecies is apparently known from Turkey, but
not yet documented eastward.

The later pictures are of a Great Egret, Egretta alba egretta, which would
be expected here.

Pete Fahey
Issaquah, WA