Pic of the Day

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis:  Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida

     Late in evening before going to roost, Cattle Egrets at the Viera Wetlands were busily gathering nesting material and flying back to rookery.  The birds worked diligently gathering branch until the sun was on the horizon.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/8000 second @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis:

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm; Saint Augustine, Florida

     This beautiful Cattle Egret sports its exquisite breeding plumage as it preforms a nuptial dance to attract a female.

Cattle Egrets are an Old World species that made their way across the Atlantic during the 19^th century.  This species was first seen in the Americas on the border of Guiana and Suriname in 1877.  It  arrived in North America in 1941, and in 1953 they were found breeding in Florida.  By 1962 the birds were a breeding species in Canada.  It is now a common bird across North America.  In its breeding plumage, I think it is one of our most beautiful egrets.  Learn more about the Cattle Egret at:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_egret

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/400 second @ f/5

Pic of the Day

 Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis:  Viera Wetlands: Viera, Florida

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/5000 second @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Cattle Egrets, Bubulcus ibis:  Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/5000 second @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis:  Saint Augustine Alligator Farm;

Saint Augustine, Florida

Pic of the Day

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis:  Saint Augustine Alligator Farm; 

Saint Augustine, Florida

     Cattle Egrets are relative new comers to North America.  They arrived in South America from Africa sometime in the 1940’s.  By the 1950’s they had spread to Florida, and to California by the mid-1960’s.

     I had long awaited an opportunity to photograph these birds in their breeding plumage, and finally had an opportunity a few years ago at the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm.  I have made numerous post on this blog about the wild birds that come to the alligator farm each spring to nest.  If you type, Saint Augustine Alligator Farm in the search box you will find many other egrets species that nest there.  If you have not visited the alligator farm between mid April to late June, you are certainly missing a bucket list adventure.

Bottom:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/500 second @ f4.5

Top:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/400 second @ 4.5

Pic of the Day

     Here are two more shots of the cattle egret in the previous post.  The shots were taken as the bird was in the process of its breeding display.

Pic of the Day

     Cattle Egret in breeding plumage – Saint Augustine Alligator Farm; Saint Augustine, Florida:  This past week I made a quick trip to the alligator farm in St. Augustine, Florida to photograph the heron rookery.  My primary purpose was to photograph cattle egret in breeding plumage.  I had been to the farm numerous times, but could never find the right egret, in the right breeding plumage, in the right setting.

     The cattle egret is not a native species to North America.   It is an African species that was introduced into British Guiana sometime in the 1940’s.  Though no one knows exactly how the bird arrived in the western hemisphere, it is suspected by some that the egret was blown-over in a hurricane. 

     Cattle egret first appeared in the United States in some numbers around lake Okeechobee in March of 1952.  Sam Grimes, A well-known bird photographer of the 40’s and 50’s suspected the birds nested around the lake and set out to find a nest and breeding bird to photograph.  In May of 1953, he successfully photographed the first known cattle egret nest in the United States.

     After many years of searching for just the right bird, in perfect breeding plumage, in just the right setting, I finally found this bird last Friday morning.  I like it! It just might be the one!


Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/400sec @ f5, Tripod