Egret keeps his eyes on Longboat Publix

Publix, where shopping is a pleasure — or, for one great egret, where window shopping is a pleasure.

The egret is a regular at the store on Bay Isles Road. There’s a picnic area on the south side of the building where he spends hours longingly staring inside through the sliding glass doors. 

No one seems to mind because he’s so well mannered for a seabird. As a man exited the sliders recently, the egret graciously side-stepped right to let him past and then returned front and center to the doors. The bird only stepped inside once but is often caught perching on cars in the parking lot.

He prefers white cars to match his pretty plumes.