Santa's Early Christmas Present --- A Great White Egret.

[Gottshotz]

Out early, last Saturday, 28/11/20, I spotted this Great White Egret being hounded by a resident Grey Heron at Portmore Lough, Northern Ireland. The Great Whites are present in Asia, Africa, the Americas and Southern Europe, but have rarely been recorded this far north, so I was very happy to get a crack at this one. D5 with 500 PF ISO 800, f5.6 @ 1/1600 Sec., handheld.

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Also known as The Common Egret, Large Egret or Great White Heron , I have often seen these birds in Spanish marshes as far up as Valencia -- now it looks as if this species is probing further north in search of food as climate change is drying out many breeding wetlands in Southern Spain. The shot below taken at Pego Marsh, Costa Blanca, Spain with D850 and Tarmron 150-600mm., at 280mm., f5.6, ISO 60, 1/1250 Sec., handheld. (09/03/18).

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However, if you are fortunate enough to visit the Pantanal in Brazil, you'll see these birds by the truckload, along with hordes of Yacare Caiman --- as below.

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And in this shot, again in the Pantanal, in the company of Roseate Spoonbills and the enormous Jabiru Stork. Both shots with D7000 and Tamron 70-300 mm., ISO 800 ' 250mm., f10 1/250 Sec., handheld.

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[Harry.G]

Great series David I especially like the 1st shot with the water dripping from legs of the Great White Egret - In the last photo with the spoonbills I know they are not a particularly large bird and they`re certainly not small by any stretch of the imagination at somewhere around 1.5 kg however they are dwarfed by that Stork it looks absolutely huge in comparison ...


Harry.G

 

[Gottshotz]

Great series David I especially like the 1st shot with the water dripping from legs of the Great White Egret - In the last photo with the spoonbills I know they are not a particularly large bird and they`re certainly not small by any stretch of the imagination at somewhere around 1.5 kg however they are dwarfed by that Stork it looks absolutely huge in comparison ...


Harry.G

Thanks Harry, yes it was only in post editing that I noticed the watter drips too -- very pleasing. As to the Jabiru stork it is the biggest in the world, standing about 5 feet tall and is built likable tank -- a very solid bird .

 

[Ralph]

That is one Hugh bird!

 

[Gongster]

Super shots David, the Great White Egret is almost a constant on the coast of Suffolk now albeit in small numbers. I can remember saying the same about the Little Egret just a few years ago. It is now a regular breeding bird here and becoming quite common.

 

[Gottshotz]

That is one Hugh bird!

Thats right Ralph, and a pretty impressive beak as well !

 

[Gottshotz]

Super shots David, the Great White Egret is almost a constant on the coast of Suffolk now albeit in small numbers. I can remember saying the same about the Little Egret just a few years ago. It is now a regular breeding bird here and becoming quite common.

Thanks Mike, same here, I saw my first British Small Egret at least 8 years ago on the outskirts of Belfast and this October a flock of 25 following cattle in a county Down field.

 

[Kathy G]

Great series David. At 5 ft, that is one huge bird!

 

[Icarus]

Your first shot taken at home has a nice mood to it. All are very nice and that Stork is indeed huge!

 

[Gottshotz]

Great series David. At 5 ft, that is one huge bird!

Thanks Kathy, if it wasn't so rare, might make a nice change from thanks giving turkey.

 

[Gottshotz]

Your first shot taken at home has a nice mood to it. All are very nice and that Stork is indeed huge!

Thanks Icarus, yes Saturday was quite bright but then this bank of cloud moved in, giving an pleasing backdrop.

 

[Tadzio]

Very beautiful series David

 

[gaknott]

Very nice captures! I especially love the 1st shot; yes, the dripping water makes it alone but when you add the grass in the foreground and the foreboding clouds in the background it really makes the egret stand out. Great shot!

 

[Gottshotz]

Very beautiful series David

Thanks Tadzio, just trying to give some illustrations to show how widespread this species can be.

 

[Gottshotz]

Very nice captures! I especially love the 1st shot; yes, the dripping water makes it alone but when you add the grass in the foreground and the foreboding clouds in the background it really makes the egret stand out. Great shot!

Thanks Greg, I was very happy with the first shot, considering I hadn't had much to shoot at for some months due to lockdown.

 

[gordon_g]

Very nice set of images... that Jabiru Stork is big boy.

 

[Gottshotz]

Very nice set of images... that Jabiru Stork is big boy.

Thanks Gordon, he, or she, sure is !

 

[Yezdi]

Outstanding shots David...

 

[Gottshotz]

Outstanding shots David...

Thanks Yezdi--- quite common in some parts of the world, but still quite beautiful in flight !

 

[Callie]

Now that JS is something else, just love it, David! What an awesome sighting!

 

[Gottshotz]

Now that JS is something else, just love it, David! What an awesome sighting!

Quite Callie, never got a good in-flight shot unfortunately, but they were impressive!