Western Cattle Egret - Charles Henrikson
Report

Contributor

Date

Location

Nine Springs Natural Area
Dane, Wisconsin, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist
Map
Map Coordinates: 43.0333593, -89.3513775
Age
Not specified
Sex
Not specified

Media notes

One CAEG and several Ring-billed Gulls

Observation details

I found the CAEG on the southern most island/peninsula in Pond 3. It was all white with a yellow bill and black legs and feet. It also had a tuft of white feathers on the top of its head. It was too small for a Great Egret or a Snowy Egret. Its small size could be compared to the Ring-billed Gulls standing very near it. Because of the cold temperature (about 30 degrees) with much frost on the grass, the CAEG was all hunkered down. I started taking photos of it from quite a distance in case it flew off. I was able to get two poor photos, documentary shots, in before something spooked the CAEG and all the gulls. They all rose up. Most of the gulls returned to the island/peninsula but the CAEG and a few gulls kept flying east until they were out of sight.

Technical information

Model
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
ISO
400
Focal length
90 mm
Flash
Flash did not fire, auto
f-stop
f/6.8
Shutter speed
1/640 sec
Dimensions
2381 pixels x 1791 pixels
Original file size
1.88 MB