Avocet non-breeding plumage

(179 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken late March of this year and many birds were still in just black and white. For courting and breeding the necks and chest acquire a rusty or tan color. They really seem to enjoy their mud-flats.

Young Night Heron

(175 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken early in May. There were 4 or 5 young ones about this size on the ground all within the fenced in area. Sometimes one of them would clamber up into a bush, but mostly they sat quietly on the ground. This little night heron actually flew a short distance to explore the edge of the nearby pond. He made a few jabbing motions with his bill and managed a couple of times to pick up a twig I felt quite privileged to have witnessed and recorded these birds and their behavior. . . .

Great Egret (ardea alba)

(175 views)
by Terry Costales

This shows all the markings you would look for in identifying this bird in the breeding season. The lacy plumes on the back and the green/blue "mask" that extends from the base of the bill to the eye are only present during this time. The Audubon Society came into existence to stop the extermination of great Egrets by plume hunters and has this bird as it's logo. Great Egrets are found world-wide, even in Australia .

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

(175 views)
by Terry Costales

Of course England has it's fair share of "flying rats". For some reason this one in Hyde Park seemed more like an actual bird to me than just feathered vermin. I'm sure if I was there long enough they would become just as annoying as pigeons are here at home.

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

(174 views)
by Terry Costales

The hippos I've seen in other zoos have been rather lethargic. But the two hippos in this pool were very active, swimming, diving with a great splash, surfacing again, over and over. They attracted quite a crowd and were fascinating to watch.

Great Egret (Ardea Alba)

(174 views)
by Terry Costales

These large egrets are graceful and breathtaking in flight. I watched this bird flying back and forth several times bringing nesting material back to it's mate. There was only one pair that I saw amongst dozens of the smaller Snowy Egrets.

Snowy Egret (Leucophoyx thula)

(174 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken in late April of this year and shows this gorgeous Snowy Egret bringing a twig back to the nest as an offering to his mate. Their distinguishing marks are the black legs, yellow feet and lacy plumes. The breeding season causes more plumes to develop on their backs and the area in front the eyes (the lores ) to change from yellow to pink, then red at the height of the season. The only thing not beautiful about these birds are their voices. A gurgling "wogga, wogga, wo . . .

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

(174 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken late May of this year. This is a very active bird so I was surprised and delighted to see it perch long enough for me to photograph it. The Barn Swallow is the only American swallow that has that deeply forked "swallow-tail".

Black-crowned Night Heron (nycticorax nicticorax)

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

At the sanctuary, there is a group of palm trees next to the large pond that provides prime nesting spots. It is fenced off to ensure the breeding birds are not disturbed. In late March, this was one of many night herons nesting amongst the snowy and great egrets. Its usually yellow legs are pink because it's breeding season.

Jackdaw

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

The Jackdaw is another type of crow common to Europe. Smaller than the Hooded crow from yesterday's posting and much less shy.

Great Egret and Pheasant

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

I didn't see a pheasant when I looked at this tree, only the Egret. As the boat drew nearer to the tree the pheasant burst out, startling the egret and me. I tried to get a shot of them as they flew past, but I was much too slow. It wasn't until I looked at the photos at home that I had the pleasure to see I had gotten a shot of the pheasant after all.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

The Grey Heron is very similar to the larger Great Blue Heron we have in California. This one seems to be in full breeding plumage. It was the only heron I saw in Hyde Park and was standing on one leg near several mute swans. He didn't seem in the least bothered by all the people that were around. He actually has a very long neck but they sit with it pulled in and folded against the chest. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has a nice page on these herons where you can see the lo . . .

Hawk with Prey

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This hawk unaware that it was Thanksgiving morning, none the less, enjoyed the holiday while helping the city lessen its vermin problem.

Breeding pair of Avocets

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

Taken Early May, they are guarding a nest and looking lovely. Maybe next trip out there I can get a shot of some Avocet chicks.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This snowy owl at the Dublin Zoo was very quiet but, if it had spoken, it would have had an unusual voice.

Harbor Seal

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo of a Harbor Seal was taken very near the Lucy Evans Interpretive Center at the bird sanctuary. I was very surprised to see it but the ranger verified that they have been known to occasionally appear.

Young Snowy Egrets

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

These 3 birds are all siblings but one is quite smaller than the rest. I kept expecting it to get shoved aside, or even knocked out of the nest, but it really held it's own. The mother would fly up to feed them and the little one was always in the front making the most noise and waggling its outstretched wings up and down in a frantic "feed me" dance. The young don't have the black legs or yellow feet like their parents, just a green that changes gradually to the adult colors as they grow.

Fledgling Night Heron

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This was taken in early May and shows a fledgling night heron that has fallen out of it's nest. It took shelter next to a fence that was only a few feet from a path. I hope everyone knew to leave it alone. Its parents would care for it where it is, but it was quite vulnerable there. This picture is being considered for inclusion in a training manual to be used by the Toronto Wildlife Centre . If you have any photos you would like to submit, here is the original article with additional detai . . .

Cliff Swallow in its nest

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a close-up of a typical nest with the adult peering out. Mud gathering has made its bill appear lighter than it actually is.

Great Egret

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

I think I am addicted to taking shots of flying egrets.

Fledgling Night Heron

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken early May. The nest was in a very shady area and it was overcast, but luckily there was a brief break in the clouds which provided enough light for me to get a decent shot. This fledgling night heron managed to stay in the nest despite what looked like a precarious perch.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This female Killdeer is standing over eggs in its "nest." Three eggs are actually present but only one is clearly visible. Even the clearly visible one is very well camouflaged. It is reputed their call sounds like "kill deer" and thus the name. I don't hear it myself but maybe that's just me.

Great Egret

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

I got this shot just as the egret was landing. Look closely and you can see the feet haven't quite come to rest on the pipe.

Barn Swallow

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This picture was taken moments after the one I posted yesterday. It's a small bird, about 7 inches long, and was singing its little heart out. I only saw a couple of barn swallows that day, but there were almost a hundred cliff swallows nesting under the eaves of the Interpretive Center. The name barn swallow derives from the fact that their nests are usually found inside barns. The nest is an open cup made of mud mixed with grass.

Snowy Egret Feeding Her Young

(173 views)
by Terry Costales

This is the trio of nestlings from yesterday's blog. Mom swoops in, holds on to the nest with her feet, uses her wings to stay balanced and feeds them on the fly, as it were. They set up a clamor when they see her nearby. "C'mon Mom, we're starving here!" Here are more photos of Snowy Egrets.