Is this an egret?

Hanging out on a boat hull.

I've never seen this variety of bird before today. I guess it's an egret. We get a few herons each year and at first I thought this might be a white heron. But it's bigger and quite different. As far as I know, this bird is not a regular visitor to upstate New York.

Its strangely graceful but its body form seems so alien. When it stretches and elongates itself, it is totally weird. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I apologize for the distant view. I didn't want to scare it off.

Since I haven't seen an egret in the 17 years that I've lived here, I assume the bird's visit is a result of climate change. Its species must be moving northward. Makes sense at the tail end of such a hot summer.

Tell me, world. Is it an egret?