billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Cattle Egret Mating stance. I have seen Great Blue Herons and Great Egret mating poses many times, but I have never seen a Cattle Egret do it before. This guy even has the little tail skirt flip. As he throws his head up he will grab a branch and yank on it. Maybe to signify that he can built a nest for a female. I wish him luck in finding that lucky lady.
Note the mating colors, darker brown feathers, purple around the eye, multi colored beak and bright red eyes.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600mm @ 600mm f6.3, 1/2500 sec. iso 400. I have a Sony 600 f4 but the versatility of the Sony 200-600 comes in handy sometimes in the limited spaces of Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Manual exposure based on a meter reading of green foliage and then underexposing two stops to get the correct exposure on a white bird.
Beautiful shot. I’ve seen a lot of Cattle Egrets but never one performing like this! Good work.
Really great image Bill. Never got close to them, and sure never seen this stance
Wow! I too have seen a lot of these guys, with photos. But nothing like this. I wouldn't have been able to identify this guy! Thanks for a great shot!!
Wonderful shot and info, Bill.
joecichjr
Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
billnikon wrote:
Cattle Egret Mating stance. I have seen Great Blue Herons and Great Egret mating poses many times, but I have never seen a Cattle Egret do it before. This guy even has the little tail skirt flip. As he throws his head up he will grab a branch and yank on it. Maybe to signify that he can built a nest for a female. I wish him luck in finding that lucky lady.
Note the mating colors, darker brown feathers, purple around the eye, multi colored beak and bright red eyes.
Sony a1, Sony 200-600mm @ 600mm f6.3, 1/2500 sec. iso 400. I have a Sony 600 f4 but the versatility of the Sony 200-600 comes in handy sometimes in the limited spaces of Wakodahatchee Wetlands.
Manual exposure based on a meter reading of green foliage and then underexposing two stops to get the correct exposure on a white bird.
Cattle Egret Mating stance. I have seen Great Blue... (
show quote)
Doing nothing for me - but I bet the lady egrets love it 🤍🤍🤍 A great capture, Bill 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
Have seen this species multiple times in PA, but first time to see the "dance". Wonderful image.
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