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20071108.jpg

Great Egret

(333 views)
by Terry Costales

I was fascinated to watch this egret hunt . He moved very patiently and slowly, then his head would dart into the shallow water and he would come up with a little fish. It must take a lot of little fish to fill such a large bird.

20070523.jpg

Great Egret (ardea alba)

(333 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 .

20070522.jpg

Great Egret (Ardea Alba)

(333 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.

20071110.jpg

Great Egret

(331 views)
by Terry Costales

The Great Egret has just caught a small fish.

20071021.jpg

Great Egret

(331 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.

20071018.jpg

Great Egret flying

(330 views)
by Terry Costales

To get a shot of a graceful bird flying is always a coup.

20070519.jpg

Avocet non-breeding plumage

(330 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.

20071013.jpg

Great Egret and Pheasant

(330 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.

20071022.jpg

Great Egret

(330 views)
by Terry Costales

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

20070628.jpg

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

(324 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.

20070520.jpg

Avocet in breeding plumage (Recurvirostra americana)

(321 views)
by Terry Costales

This view shows the extent of the buff coloring avocets acquire on neck and chest in the breeding season. They stand about 15 to 20 inches tall and Wikipedia has more info on these birds if you're interested.

20070521.jpg

Breeding pair of Avocets

(319 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.

20070718.jpg

Harbor Seal

(317 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.

20071007.jpg

Zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi)

(317 views)
by Terry Costales

A beautiful Zebra with gorgeous long lashes. I would love to see Zebras in California fields alongside the horses, sheep and cows. We have Ostriches and Llamas, why not Zebras?

20071009.jpg

White Pelicans

(316 views)
by Terry Costales

Taking photos from a boat was a new experience. I was able to get much closer to this flock of Pelicans before they took flight. These appear to be Australian Pelicans because of the pink bills. Or do American White Pelicans have pink bills in the winter? Further research needed.

20070618.jpg

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(316 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.

20071010.jpg

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

(316 views)
by Terry Costales

Yesterday I thought these birds might be Australian Pelicans but with further research I found they are American White Pelicans in non-breeding plumage. I'm glad that's settled.

20070915.jpg

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

(315 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.

20070630.jpg

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

(315 views)
by Terry Costales

This is a photograph of a pair of Mallards nesting on a concrete outcropping that is part of this canal lock. The roar of the water as it leaves the lock and close proximity to boats going by doesn't seem to faze them. The female Mallard is sitting on the nest a few feet behind the male and is very well camouflaged.

20071116.jpg

Killdeer in Flight

(315 views)
by Terry Costales

Killdeer are a shy and fast bird. Consequently I rarely get a good shot of one. I was lucky this day to get that elusive shot.

20071104_Tortoise_Dublin_Zoo.jpg

Tortoise

(315 views)
by Terry Costales

These two large tortoises ambled about and were not as sluggish as one might expect. I dont know which species of tortoise this is because I forgot to photograph the sign.

20070620.jpg

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

(315 views)
by Terry Costales

The female Killdeer in this picture is adopting a wounded bird pose and making a distress call. She is trying to lure me away from her nest by convincing me she is easy prey. Luckily for her I only wanted her photo.

20070714.jpg

Caged Tiger

(314 views)
by Terry Costales

This photo was taken August 13th, 2006, which was my first day with my new camera. The tiger rapidly paced her cage, back and forth, revealing an occasional silent snarl. I waited in front of the enclosure for a good shot but in all my photos the tiger was out of focus or out of frame. Except for this one. This photo isn't the greatest I've ever taken, but I love it anyway. I caught that exact second our eyes met and for that breath-catching moment I was potential prey.

20071103.jpg

Small Shorebird

(314 views)
by Terry Costales

A small shorebird, about 4-6 inches long, was perched on a rock. I don't know what kind it is.

20071020.jpg

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

(314 views)
by Terry Costales

Seeing a bright red eye on a bird, to me, is quite startling. Although the heron appears to be standing one-legged, the other leg is actually stretched out in front, grasping another branch.

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