Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The three baby Cattle Egrets...and mama from behind

These are the same Cattle Egrets from the previous post. Mama left the nest for a few minutes to chase away a Night-crowned Heron, and when she returned, she faced the other direction, showing off her beautiful nuptial plumage.

A Cattle Egret nestling looks on as his mama jumps up to convince a Night-crowned Heron to move on to his own nest!





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23 comments:

  1. ElaineJuly 28, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    Absolutely fantastic photos, Kelly! What a magical place to visit. I can see why you keep going back.

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  2. holdingmomentsJuly 28, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Superb pictures Kelly. It feels like I'm right there in the nest with them.

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  3. TexWisGirlJuly 28, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    when their feathers are spread like that, they always remind me of those filament lamps. :)

    just wonderful shots.

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  4. Lois EvensenJuly 28, 2011 at 9:32 AM

    Wonderful images! It is so neat to see them "at home with family." The babies are darling and the images are excellent as always.

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  5. Janice KJuly 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    Those pictures are priceless, Kelly. I enjoy so much seeing things through the eye of your camera. Thank you!

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  6. NCmountainwomanJuly 28, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    What a treat! Must have been really great to see them in person.

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  7. CaitlinJuly 28, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I just read about these guys in my bird book. Apparently they live in every continent (except Antarctica) I love their crazy hairdos!

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  8. grammie gJuly 28, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    HI Kelly ...This so wonderful to see this family up close, and personal "well almost" lol
    Beatiful birds!!
    Grace

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  9. Wanda.....July 28, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    The cute baby Egrets sure like to stay underfoot.

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  10. UnknownJuly 28, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    great photos my friend! These egrets are so unique I love how different from other birds they are...the feathers are like fur almost. and the beak is so impressive
    Keep up the good work

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  11. MontanagirlJuly 28, 2011 at 6:29 PM

    Fabulous photos, Kelly! I'm so jealous. Would love to get photos like this of Cattle Egrets. However, I did see one of these at Bowdoin recently. He was so far away though it was ridiculous. Only good for a record shot.

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  12. DebbieJuly 28, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    cutie pies....they sure do stick close to momma!!!

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  13. Randy EmmittJuly 28, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Kelly,

    I've tried more than a few times to get decent Cattle Egret photos. These photos are well beyond decent, KUDOs. I recall being in the Everglades watching the Cattle Egrets munching away at every Southern White butterfly in sight.

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  14. Dawn FineJuly 28, 2011 at 11:56 PM

    OH MY! I am loving the Cattle Egret photos!

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  15. AnonymousJuly 29, 2011 at 7:30 AM

    Adorable babies, but mama's plumage - wow! Speaking of nuptial, it does look a bit like a wedding veil, doesn't it?

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  16. Banjo52July 29, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    I love all of these shots, as usual, but in the top one, the three chicks sort of make the hypotenuse of a triangle. Mom's got them beat in plumage, for sure, but I guess the babes are better at math.

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  17. FABJuly 29, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Hi Kelly. I must say this and the recent posts are a superb series of the nesting Egrets ... exceptionally well presented.

    P.S. Also good to hear the voice in the recent video.

    Hope you and the family have a great weekend. Cheers FAB.

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  18. Krista/RucaJuly 29, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    Wow wow wow! Fantastic shots! There are lots of cattle egrets here in Portugal but any time I've ventured close to a nest it's been like trying to get close to royalty. Of course I back away respectfully, like any good citizen would.

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  19. Campbell KidsJuly 30, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    Gorgeous photos! Wish I could see these in person!

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  20. myonlyphotoJuly 30, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Kelly these are beautiful photos of the Egrets. Thanks for sharing. Anna :)

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  21. Garden LilyJuly 31, 2011 at 9:53 PM

    Those are beautiful shots. So the nest is low enough to view that way? I am imagining you perched on a ladder, catching those kind of shots!

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  22. KellyAugust 1, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    ...thank you all for you kind words. It was so much fun watching this little family. I have hundreds and hundreds of photos of them. I was sitting on a hill across the mote about eye level with their nest. They do not nest high in the trees, and their location, although pretty far away, was open to viewing. Every now and then a Black-crowned Heron would land on a branch overhead and the branch would dip down obstructing the view, but usually, the family was out in the open. Everything is easy at the Pinckney Island rookery during nesting season!

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  23. cindyzlogicAugust 3, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    SUPER fabulous captures, Kelly!!!

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