Cattle Egrets

[Harryb]

Hi you all,

Until I shot a few at the rookery I never paid much mind to the cattle egret. They hang out at the wetlands because there's a cattle ranch next door.

They usually hang out in groups
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571375-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571331-L.jpg

If you are careful or have a long lens you can get close enough to isolate one
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571330-L.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571329-L.jpg

as soon as you spook one you spook them all
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571377-L.jpg

[ginger_55]

Harry, I love cattle egrets, though I tried not to. I think of them as the comedians, at least the younger ones.

I love your LAST three shots, and am terribly impressed by the numbers!

I have never seen that many of any one kind of bird together anywhere!

Uh, I saw a shotgun camera yesterday. I am still in shock over the ability one would have to get action shots. That is one BAD camera!

ginger (Camera or not, those last three shots are really good, especially that last flight shot. I want a flight shot like that so bad.)

[bfjr]

I see were going for some muti BIF points, and ya done well :lol

I might of framed the 1st one a little different :dunno :hide

the tight shots are your usual pristine work :thumb

All in all not a bad set even without an Osprey :rofl :lol4 :D

[Harryb]

Harry, I love cattle egrets, though I tried not to. I think of them as the comedians, at least the younger ones.

I love your LAST three shots, and am terribly impressed by the numbers!

I have never seen that many of any one kind of bird together anywhere!

Uh, I saw a shotgun camera yesterday. I am still in shock over the ability one would have to get action shots. That is one BAD camera!

ginger (Camera or not, those last three shots are really good, especially that last flight shot. I want a flight shot like that so bad.)
Hey Ginger,

I have slowly come to appreciate the cattle egret. When I first got down here I usually ignored then because I didn't find them all that interesting.

They flock together in the wetland in the early morning and late afternoon before and after they go out to the cattle ranch in search of bugs attracted to the cattle.

The machine gun (02H) helps to get action shots but my old musket (D100) is still going strong. Two of the shots in this series including the flight shot were with the D100.

[jwear]

good group shots well i guess the singles are OK too :D i have had a hard time ,no more than a hard time with bif group shots still not one that is any good --maybe the little birds are justt tooo fast and to hard to get a lock on :scratch but maybe the d70 is not fast enough any ideas :dunno

[ginger_55]

Hey Ginger,

I have slowly come to appreciate the cattle egret. When I first got down here I usually ignored then because I didn't find them all that interesting.

They flock together in the wetland in the early morning and late afternoon before and after they go out to the cattle ranch in search of bugs attracted to the cattle.

The machine gun (02H) helps to get action shots but my old musket (D100) is still going strong. Two of the shots in this series including the flight shot were with the D100.

Harry, could you just say what lens you used to get that flight shot?

ginger

[Harryb]

Harry, could you just say what lens you used to get that flight shot?

ginger
That was the 80-400VR at 400mm.

[Dee]

Perfect exposure, as per usual! You are getting too predictable... let's not get stuck in a rut now, How bout more pelicans!!! :rofl

[Harryb]

I see were going for some muti BIF points, and ya done well http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/lol3.gif

I might of framed the 1st one a little different http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/ne_nau.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/peepwall.gif

the tight shots are your usual pristine work http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

All in all not a bad set even without an Osprey http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/roflol.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gifThanks Ben. I would have included an osprey but they are getting a tad common. Everybody is shooting them these days. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif

Here's a recent osprey for ya.
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/32571280-L.jpg

[bfjr]

I'll see your Osprey and raise you the ugliest bird I know (no not a piccie of Me :D)

http://bfjr.smugmug.com/photos/32989972-L.jpg

[david_h]

Harry, like Dee said, you are getting predictable. Your shots are always fantastic, I always look forward to seeing them.

Those west coast guys are getting good as well - looks like the bird competition is hotting up :):

[Harryb]

I'll see your vulture


http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/30542272-L.jpg

and raise you one eagle

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/19140615-L.jpg

[Harryb]

good group shots well i guess the singles are OK too :D i have had a hard time ,no more than a hard time with bif group shots still not one that is any good --maybe the little birds are justt tooo fast and to hard to get a lock on :scratch but maybe the d70 is not fast enough any ideas :dunno
Thanks Jeff. Actually I find a group of birds easier to shoot than a single bird. They are easier to lock focus on. I shot the group flight shot with the D100 and the 80-400, not the faster focusing combo on the block. I did step down the aperture to f9 for the shot. If stepping down the aperture lowers the shutter speed too much I'll bump up the ISO. What aperture setting have you been using for your shots?

[ginger_55]

Ben that turkey bird, he is ugly, had a big disaster, lost part of his wing?

g


Harry, sorry finally noticed the tee tiny exif info, no please don't enlarge it, I will look for it from now on. thanks for lens info.

my birds are much bigger than that. They don't fit into a 400mm in any large numbers, if they did their clarity would be nothing like that.

You know I am getting John's butterfly lens. Scary, I could never get a shot like that. But I know the flock of birds would not fit in that lens either, not mine.

I was thinking wide...................??? But if you used a 400, maybe my new lens will do magic! (If I can find a flock of birds, smile)

ginger

[Harryb]

Perfect exposure, as per usual! You are getting too predictable... let's not get stuck in a rut now, How bout more pelicans!!! :rofl
Thank you Dee. If I posted pelicans you would want egrets. :rolleyes There's just no pleasing you. :huh

[Harryb]

Harry, like Dee said, you are getting predictable. Your shots are always fantastic, I always look forward to seeing them.

Those west coast guys are getting good as well - looks like the bird competition is hotting up http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/xzicon_smile_cool.gif

Thanks David. The west coast contigent is doing some fantastic work. Hopefully they will be able to keep up the pace. You can't be sure. I find it hard to trust folks who put pineapple on their pizza. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif and keep electing actors as their governor. :dunno

[Harryb]

Ben that turkey bird, he is ugly, had a big disaster, lost part of his wing?

g


Harry, sorry finally noticed the tee tiny exif info, no please don't enlarge it, I will look for it from now on. thanks for lens info.

my birds are much bigger than that. They don't fit into a 400mm in any large numbers, if they did their clarity would be nothing like that.

You know I am getting John's butterfly lens. Scary, I could never get a shot like that. But I know the flock of birds would not fit in that lens either, not mine.

I was thinking wide...................??? But if you used a 400, maybe my new lens will do magic! (If I can find a flock of birds, smile)

ginger
I'm sure you will enjoy the new lens. John did pretty well with it.

[bfjr]

I'll see your vulture




and raise you one eagle


OK OK you won this Hand!!! :D
But the game ain't over not by a long shot :lol4 :thumb

[Steve Cavigliano]

Niceeeeeeeee Harry :thumb :thumb


I'm with Ginger. I really love those lil cattle egrets :lust Maybe it's because I've never seen one to shoot :dunno But I sure like their coloring and their wispy head feathers :clap

Good work on these :D You can keep that butt-ugly vulture though :lol3

Steve

[Harryb]

Niceeeeeeeee Harry :thumb :thumb


I'm with Ginger. I really love those lil cattle egrets :lust Maybe it's because I've never seen one to shoot :dunno But I sure like their coloring and their wispy head feathers :clap

Good work on these :D You can keep that butt-ugly vulture though :lol3

Steve
Hey Steve,

I'm beginning to like the cattle egret. The hardest part of shooting them is getting to isolate one as they usually in a group.

I kind of like that vulture. He has character. :D

[Rohirrim]

Lovely shots. Those last 3 are especially nice :clap:thumb

[Harryb]

Lovely shots. Those last 3 are especially nice :clap:thumb
Thak you very much Steve.

[Osprey Whisperer]

Cattle egrets? I don't see any horns...boy. :D Nice shots Harry.


Ben...what are you doing cutting wing tips off ....AGAIN? Is that a Nikon thing? :dunno :rofl I think we'll have to dock you $1.00 every time you post a chopped wing photo. Shame on you. Toss that TC...man. :uhoh

BMP

[Harryb]

Cattle egrets? I don't see any horns...boy. :D Nice shots Harry.


Ben...what are you doing cutting wing tips off ....AGAIN? Is that a Nikon thing? :dunno :rofl I think we'll have to dock you $1.00 every time you post a shopped wing photo. Shame on you. Toss that TC...man. :uhoh

BMP
Thanks Mike and don't pick on Ben. He's pretty cool for a west coaster.

[Osprey Whisperer]

Thanks Mike and don't pick on Ben. He's pretty cool for a west coaster.
so.....you are saying he's not HOT like us Floridians..eh? :rofl

BMP

[Khaos]

Very nice Harry. I love the isolated shots.:thumb

[jwear]

Thanks Jeff. Actually I find a group of birds easier to shoot than a single bird. They are easier to lock focus on. I shot the group flight shot with the D100 and the 80-400, not the faster focusing combo on the block. I did step down the aperture to f9 for the shot. If stepping down the aperture lowers the shutter speed too much I'll bump up the ISO. What aperture setting have you been using for your shots?f8 and if i use a higher iso on the d70 'well you know they really need to just add a 100 to the 200 and that is alll the camera can use 'Higher iso does not work on the d70 unless the light is great and you do not need it :dunno I have one i will post when time comes my way .Sunday i will give group a try and work on it thanks for info :thumb

[lynnma]

Just had to comment that it makes me laugh that all you guys in this forum are either birds or horses.. except ginger that it...:rofl

[Harryb]

Very nice Harry. I love the isolated shots.:thumb
Thnaks. Those two shots are my favorites.

[Harryb]

Just had to comment that it makes me laugh that all you guys in this forum are either birds or horses.. except ginger that it...:rofl
I'm glad you are amused. You might remember i used to have my own pic as my avatar until somebdoy changed my profile from "super moderator" to "bird brain". I felt that a new avatar was needed to fit the change. And Ginger at one time had a bird too. :D

I may be going with a gator soon. I find that it's closer to my mood than a pelican. :lol

[Osprey Whisperer]

Just had to comment that it makes me laugh that all you guys in this forum are either birds or horses.. except ginger that it...:rofl
It's because we're always horsing around...and often times VERY FOWL. :huh

BMP