Egret in Flight: Take 2

I've got this photo up in the Critique forum over at DPS.

I've added some motion blur to the shore line in the background. I still can't put my finger on what I don't like about this picture. I like the egret, and his pose, and that I can see his head from the angle I shot at. Maybe it's the colors? So drab...

I do like it a bit better with more blur in the background. Here's what I've got so far: