The egret's gracious flaying form is a great reward for your attempts. Since you are revisiting the place often, I would like to see it in a softer light, very early morning, with some fog/mist (does it ever happen there?). It is not easy for me to say it, as I am usually against such trickery, but if you manage to get a softer light, I wouldn't object to composting that egret into such a scene.
