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Cattle Egret


Cattle Egret
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 6169] (21080)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Florida
Theme(s): 40 - 49 points (Chapter 10) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-04-18 3:13
Viewed: 711
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A cattle egret in full breeding plumage standing guard over his nest at a bird sanctuary

CATTLE EGRET
Bubulcus ibis

Héron garde-boeufs (French)
Depulgabuey, Garrapatosa, Garrapatera, Garza de ganado, Garza de vaquèra, Garcita de ganado, Garcilla garrapatera, Garcilla bueyera (Spanish)
Buff-backed Heron (English)

A small white heron of pastures and roadsides, the Cattle Egret is more at home foraging in grass than in water. It follows cattle, horses, and tractors to catch the insects they stir up.

Description:
Medium-sized all-white heron.
Sturdy yellow bill.
Dark legs and feet.
Swollen throat.
Rather short, thick neck for a heron.
Size: 46-56 cm (18-22 in)
Wingspan: 88-96 cm (35-38 in)
Weight: 270-512 g (9.53-18.07 ounces)
Sexes similar.

Sound
Quiet away from breeding colony. Quiet, throaty "rick-rack."

Cool Facts:

The Cattle Egret is native to Africa and Asia, and only reached the Americas in the late 19th century. It was first found in northeastern South America in 1877, having probably arrived there from Africa. It reached the United States in 1941, and started nesting by 1953. In the next 50 years it became one of the most abundant of the North American herons. It has occurred all the way to Alaska and Newfoundland, and has bred in nearly all states.
The Cattle Egret is an opportunistic feeder, and will follow large animals or machines to catch insects they stir up. It also is attracted by smoke from a large fire. Egrets come from long distances to catch insects trying to escape the fire.
The Cattle Egret occasionally adds birds to its diet. At Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas off the coast of Florida, migrating Cattle Egrets land on the large green lawn inside the fort, probably hoping for some nice grasshoppers. Because no insects are there to be had, the egrets try to catch the migrating warblers that also have stopped on the tiny island.

Source
joey, elefantino, uleko, deblink, Debz, pirate, fartash, lee, Luis52, Evelynn, ellis49, Adanac has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Bonjour,
Voilà une mise en scène impeccable qui révèle juste ce qu'il faut de l'oiseau.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

The light provided you with ultimate details and colour. This is a very good photo.

  • Great 
  • Bac Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 97 W: 3 N: 33] (480)
  • [2007-04-18 3:36]

Hi, the picture has a lot of light and sharpness, it's a nice composition in the middle of these trees or plants. TFS.
Christian

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2007-04-18 4:03]

Hi Manyee,
an diverse shot with amazing detail.
Well done,
Joey

Amazing shot of this cattle egret in summer plumage!
Excellent colors and white exposure.
nice pose, too.
Andrea

Really cool guy, Manyee!
TFS
Ralf

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3014 W: 162 N: 1031] (3021)
  • [2007-04-18 4:48]

Hello Manyee,
What a wonderful capture of the Cattle Egret in beautiful plumage and colours. Excellent focus on the sharp eye and I like the way he's half-hidden in the greenery!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Manyee,
What an unusual looking bird you have captured in this image. I love the colour of the crest and the feathers down the front. Your image is of extremely good quality. Well seen and photographed.
Cheers,
Debbie

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 516 W: 0 N: 846] (3307)
  • [2007-04-18 5:04]

Hi Manyee, this is a fantastic shot of the Egret, a great close up. Lovely detail and sharpness on the bird and I love the POV with him behind the bushses. Great light and your exposure is very good.
tfs
debz

Foto impeccabile!
Ottima ambientazione!
Bravo!

--------
Great photo!
Perfect composition!

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2273 W: 10 N: 2661] (15669)
  • [2007-04-18 7:05]

Hola Manyee,
deliciosa imagen,
bellos detallles y pov,
agradable iluminación, colores y texturas.
saludos

Hi Manyee,
A funny one...and a very good one as well due to sharpness, composing and so forth.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • smitha Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 323 W: 75 N: 1002] (3753)
  • [2007-04-18 11:57]

Hi manyee,
Very good shot. Good colours and details. The cattle egret you have photographed has redder beak and eye than those over here. It looks like it's aggressively protecting its nest. TFS,
Smitha.

Hi Manyee,
woooooow - that's impressive!
What a fantastic bird - I love it.
Your low POV is very nice here, very well done, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hello Manyee
Excellent shot of this wonderful Cattle Egret,Great compo and sharpness,
Fantastic colors and BG,Superb shot.

Regards
Fartash

Beautiful shot of the egret popping out of the tree. the white tones in the plumage fantastic. A real nice picture Manyee. :)

  • Great 
  • lee Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 38 W: 0 N: 23] (84)
  • [2007-04-18 14:21]

Hi Manyee, great capture of the egret. Love the composition with the surroundings. He certainly does have a strong look about him. Nice colors. Good focus and nice detail. Good work...really like your camera:-). Good job, thanks.

Lee

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2007-04-18 22:06]

Hola Manyee.- Esplendida foto. Bellos colores y gran nitidez. Sus colores vivos muy naturales sin saturacion me agradan. Luis52.

I for one do not wish to mess with him. This is a very sharp image and well exposed in the bright light.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Manyee,
You manage to get great shots with you small S3, shot after shot, I'm impressed.
The exposure and details are spot on. The colours are warm and beautiful. Well composed and good POV.
Well doen, my friend.

I love the colours, composition, everything! Perfect! Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5209] (17609)
  • [2007-04-19 21:48]

Hi Manyee,
Simply exquisite thats all, Outstanding job.
Rick

Salut Maynee,
Elle est superbe cette photo avec une excellente prise de vue, luminosité, composition et détails. L'exposition du blanc est parfaitement maitrisé. Bravo pour ce superbe portrait!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2007-04-22 16:52]

Superbe photo,l'exposition est parfaite et les détails sont excellents.
Merci!
Joseph.

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