ML343578441

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

4 Cattle Egrets arrived May 21, 2021. There still are 3 that continue. Tonight, there was 1 Cattle Egret on the island at the rookery in the park. This particular bird has changed colors in the last week-bill has turned bright red, lores are now purple/pink-legs turned red and orange patches are more defined. The bird appeared to be “displaying” a bit, with feathers erect and dipping. This bird has been routinely seen on same side of the island in the evening, tonight was first of this behavior. The bird flew off towards the trees and landed next to another Cattle Egret, when they opened their wings towards each other and appeared to “dance.” The pair appeared to preen each other for a brief moment. The colorful bird than took off, flew around the island again and back towards the trees, when 2 other Cattle Egrets joined it and they flew again around the island. They were bill snapping and flying in a weird way-somewhat similar to a Canada Geese doing a “barrel” roll. All 3 birds landed on the same collapsed tree as they have been seen every night since they arrived. 1 pair seems to be forming, while 1 female seems to want in on the action. The birds will retire inside of a large bush every night-this bush was the nesting sight for Green Herons last year.(not present this year) They will be gone by sunrise and return later in the day.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D500

Lens

200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6

ISO

800

Focal length

480 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/160 sec

Dimensions

3291 pixels x 2194 pixels

Original file size

1.69 MB