Last week, while staying with my sister in Melbourne, I had a
chance to check out the wetlands in Rowville near the golf course.
Actually, I was just stretching my legs with a camera trying to
capture some suburban birds when I spied this guy far across a
swampy meadow. A 135mm lens is not the ideal weapon for
shooting at this range, so I lined myself up with the scant cover
of the bush at right and squelched my way down until I was right
behind it.
and when I broke cover for a better shot,
as far as I could tell, Ardea intermedia. Unfortunately his
mate was killed and now he mourns his loss and lives a
hermitic existence since egrets usually mate for life.
Click to enlarge.
Next week I'll give you a short burst of the common suburban birds
in the area.
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you did well to catch him like you did. sad that he's alone.
ReplyDeleteThese are pure delight!
ReplyDeleteHe's quite at home in the lush surrounds - great captures of this beautifully elegant bird.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured some wonderful pictures here.
ReplyDeleteDelightful indeed! And what a beautiful bird. Marvelous captures as always! Hope you have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
mates for life along with geese and owls. no chance for a seond marriage? that makes me sad :^)
ReplyDeletethe photo in flight is wonderful
♥
kj
Great photos of the Egret. Your progress through the shrubs sounds like really dedicated bird watching!
ReplyDeleteHas spring sprung yet? We are getting better weather. Though it is forecast another polar blast this weekend.
ReplyDeleteA sad story about a handsome bird.
ReplyDeleteYou did a wonderful job, sneaking up to him, love the last shot!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about Egrets. So, if you just see one, it means they've lost their mate? Very interesting. Great captures!
ReplyDeleteYou did it perfectly! Lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteGood post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad, solitary fellow. You did a great job stalking and shooting!
ReplyDeleteLovely shots!
ReplyDeleteNice catch!
ReplyDeleteLovely images of a beutiful bird...I love the flight shot.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of getting these pictures, even if you didn't have a proper lens. The pictures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThey are a lovely bird aren't they? In the past few years they have become quite a common sight in the UK - something to do with global warming or so they say.
ReplyDeleteI love the shot of flight. I use to think these birds were rare, seeing one or three here and there. Then one trip to Hawaii, I saw what seemed to be a thousand of them!
ReplyDeleteGreat series on the egret. They are beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteStalking is part of the fun :)
ReplyDeleteHe's a beauty, well worth the effort.
I love the stalking! I have a 400mm lens so I stand mightily impress with your skills using a much shorter lens. I read a story recently showing what kind of tricks a "real" pro photographer used to get his pictures. The fake set up hardly seemed ethical. Your images are the real deal! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteBeauty...sheer beauty...thanks for commenting on my dog blog. Your offerings are so enlightening...many thanks!
ReplyDeleteEgrets are so elegant and your photos are lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh, the joys and trials of stalking! I did not know they mate for life and I really didn't know that means they live like a hermit if one or the other is killed! Do they never find a new mate?
ReplyDelete