Tuesday, August 30, 2011

World Bird Wednesday - Stalking an Egret


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.


Even before I was in position, I felt him watching my progress
and when I broke cover for a better shot,


he was decidedly skittish -


and took to the air just enough


to land again near the reeds. This is an Intermediate Egret,
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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27 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlAugust 30, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    you did well to catch him like you did. sad that he's alone.

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  2. SandyCarlsonAugust 30, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    These are pure delight!

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  3. DianneAugust 30, 2011 at 6:33 PM

    He's quite at home in the lush surrounds - great captures of this beautifully elegant bird.

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  4. Ruth HiebertAugust 30, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    You have captured some wonderful pictures here.

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  5. Sylvia KAugust 30, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    Delightful indeed! And what a beautiful bird. Marvelous captures as always! Hope you have a lovely day!

    Sylvia

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  6. kjAugust 30, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    mates for life along with geese and owls. no chance for a seond marriage? that makes me sad :^)

    the photo in flight is wonderful

    ♥
    kj

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  7. mickAugust 30, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Great photos of the Egret. Your progress through the shrubs sounds like really dedicated bird watching!

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  8. Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪August 30, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    Has spring sprung yet? We are getting better weather. Though it is forecast another polar blast this weekend.

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  9. GaelynAugust 30, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    A sad story about a handsome bird.

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  10. fjällripanAugust 31, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    You did a wonderful job, sneaking up to him, love the last shot!!

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  11. Yogi♪♪♪August 31, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    Beautiful shots.

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  12. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 5:10 AM

    I didn't know that about Egrets. So, if you just see one, it means they've lost their mate? Very interesting. Great captures!

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  13. jooAugust 31, 2011 at 5:30 AM

    You did it perfectly! Lovely shots!

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  14. UnknownAugust 31, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Good post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  15. PatAugust 31, 2011 at 6:28 AM

    What a sad, solitary fellow. You did a great job stalking and shooting!

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  16. Sandy Sandy ArtAugust 31, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    Lovely shots!

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  17. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    Nice catch!

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  18. theconstantwalkerAugust 31, 2011 at 11:10 AM

    Lovely images of a beutiful bird...I love the flight shot.

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  19. GeorgeAugust 31, 2011 at 11:18 AM

    You did a great job of getting these pictures, even if you didn't have a proper lens. The pictures are wonderful.

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  20. The Weaver of GrassAugust 31, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    They 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.

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  21. Tammie LeeAugust 31, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I 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!

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  22. eileeninmdAugust 31, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Great series on the egret. They are beautiful birds.

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  23. TammyAugust 31, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    Stalking is part of the fun :)

    He's a beauty, well worth the effort.

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  24. SpringmanAugust 31, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    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!

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  25. fromsophiesviewAugust 31, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    Beauty...sheer beauty...thanks for commenting on my dog blog. Your offerings are so enlightening...many thanks!

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  26. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentAugust 31, 2011 at 11:41 PM

    Egrets are so elegant and your photos are lovely.

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  27. Kathie BrownSeptember 1, 2011 at 10:22 AM

    Oh, 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?

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