Cattle Egrets

[Chas]

I took this shot at Exminster Marsh, Devon this morning. The birds were waiting patiently for the small herd of cattle to move so that they could forage under their feet. They showed very little fear of me and at one time were only 20 feet or so away. I do not own a lens capable of capturing close up images but I think my shots are interesting as they show the birds engaged in their usual feeding behaviour and it was fascinating to watch them and observe their almost obsessive behaviour towards the herd. They were/are absolutely beautiful and it will be a very nice addition to our breeding and resident species if indeed this happens. I have seen this species abroad mostly in Florida and found that they are not easy to approach out there so I was surprised that they were so uncaring of my presence. Could be that they were quite hungry as insects cant be that easy to find with the weather being colder here.
There is another image in the gallery showing the M5 in the background. U(Unfortunately the image needs rotating does anyone know how to delete it so I can adjust and then upload again please)

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Chas

There is another image in the gallery showing the M5 in the background. Unfortunately the image needs rotating does anyone know how to delete it so I can adjust and then upload again please.

I've done it for you.

[Chas]

Thanks Graham

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Chas

The birds were waiting patiently for the small herd of cattle to move so that they could forage under their feet.

In Africa they just muck about beside the cattle / wildebeest / zebra / etc., and catch the insects that fly up from the disturbance of the feet. seemed same in India too.

They can be amazingly roange when in breeding plumage - have they breed in UK yet ?

[Beryl]

There are quite a few Cattle Egret on the lower Harlsdon farm along side the estuary here in Exmouth. They follow the cattle eating the insect that are turned up by their hooves They also eat frogs and reptiles, I took quite a few photos and made a video . They have buff colourd breasts and buff on the top of their heads in the summer

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

In Africa they just muck about beside the cattle / wildebeest / zebra / etc., and catch the insects that fly up from the disturbance of the feet. seemed same in India too.

They can be amazingly roange when in breeding plumage - have they breed in UK yet ?

They haven't bred in UK yet- but it's a species much mooted to breed in the near future. Who knows, with this unprecedented influx, maybe birds will hang around to breed this year? They are a dynamic species; they naturally colonised the new world from the old world + not many do that without man's intervention!

[John]

In quite a few areas along the Med the Cattle Egret can turn up almost anywhere. I have even seen them in forests and orchards. In a lot of cases they are vrery confiding and are not phased by the presence of humans.

I have even seen roosts of them on house roofs as well as watching them trundling down the middle of main roads. I took this photo of one where I had to stop on a road and wait whilst it decided to move to the side of the road.


I have said for quite a while now that I think this will be the next bird to start breeding here. With this latest influx of birds here and in Ireland it could be a good indication that perhaps some will stay to breed.

John

Originally Posted by Chas

I have seen this species abroad mostly in Florida and found that they are not easy to approach out there so I was surprised that they were so uncaring of my presence. Could be that they were quite hungry as insects cant be that easy to find with the weather being colder here.

[Chas]

I would think that one of the draw backs to breeding in this country would be that they are colony breeders and would need a site large enough to accommodate several pairs, but I am sure that they will breed eventually. The pair that I saw were definately getting enough to eat even in January but it may not be that easy with snow on the ground! Littel Egrets are "2 a penny" here in Devon now, when I saw my first 10 or more years ago I remember how thrilled I was. Of course with totally different feeding habits Little Egrets can always get enough to eat in the UK by feeding in the Estuaries close to the sea as they do on the River Exe, that will not be the case for Cattle Egrets. I do think that this is a fascinating example of nature taking its course. The most successful colonisers have been the Collared Dove (unheard of before 1956 in the UK) the Little Egrets as discussed and now hopefully the Cattle Egrets. All three without intervention from the RSPB who seem to get involved in "pie in the sky" schemes like White Tailed Eagles, Bustards etc. I think they should be more concerned with the decline of the Song Thrush, House Sparrow and nest sites for House Martins. Still that's another thread.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Chas

I would think that one of the draw backs to breeding in this country would be that they are colony breeders and would need a site large enough to accommodate several pairs, but I am sure that they will breed eventually. The pair that I saw were definately getting enough to eat even in January but it may not be that easy with snow on the ground! Littel Egrets are "2 a penny" here in Devon now, when I saw my first 10 or more years ago I remember how thrilled I was. Of course with totally different feeding habits Little Egrets can always get enough to eat in the UK by feeding in the Estuaries close to the sea as they do on the River Exe, that will not be the case for Cattle Egrets. I do think that this is a fascinating example of nature taking its course. The most successful colonisers have been the Collared Dove (unheard of before 1956 in the UK) the Little Egrets as discussed and now hopefully the Cattle Egrets. All three without intervention from the RSPB who seem to get involved in "pie in the sky" schemes like White Tailed Eagles, Bustards etc. I think they should be more concerned with the decline of the Song Thrush, House Sparrow and nest sites for House Martins. Still that's another thread.

Why should the fact that they nest colonially be a problem? So do birds such as Grey Herons + the recently colonised Little Egret without any problems.

[Chas]

I was thinking they need to be here in such numbers that would constitute a colony, you can hardly have a colony with just one pair! But I am not being negative, will be great when it happens and I hope it does soon.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Still yet to see one of these. But then again I would have probably have just thought it was a little egret, as I wouldn't have been able to see its feet! Are there other ways of distinguishing little and cattle egrets other than the yellow feet of the little?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Still yet to see one of these. But then again I would have probably have just thought it was a little egret, as I wouldn't have been able to see its feet! Are there other ways of distinguishing little and cattle egrets other than the yellow feet of the little?

The whole jizz is different, they are dumpier, stockier birds without the elegance with a shorter, thicker bill + without the long plumes. Also habitat differences- Little Egrets feed mainly in or by water, whereas Cattle Egrets feed mainly in grasslands, usually in company of grazing animals.

[John]

Don't forget the yellow bill.

John

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The whole jizz is different, they are dumpier, stockier birds without the elegance with a shorter, thicker bill + without the long plumes. Also habitat differences- Little Egrets feed mainly in or by water, whereas Cattle Egrets feed mainly in grasslands, usually in company of grazing animals.

[Chas]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The whole jizz is different, they are dumpier, stockier birds without the elegance with a shorter, thicker bill + without the long plumes. Also habitat differences- Little Egrets feed mainly in or by water, whereas Cattle Egrets feed mainly in grasslands, usually in company of grazing animals.

That being said the ones in Devon seem to be in the company of Little Egrets quite a lot of the time. The Little Egrets are away from the water at least some of the time and in the meadows, but the Cattle Egrets are never by the shoreline. If you are familiar with the Little Egret you would notice the difference quite easily. At a glance, and from a distance it is not immediately obvious but as soon as you get a look through binos or a closer look then it is. I would say, at rest the beak shape and colour is the obvious feature, but as soon as they move they have a totally different......hate that word Jizz.....but that's what it is. I would say if you want to see them then a trip to Devon would be a worthwhile. Exminster is dead easy to get to, just minutes off the M5. Also I am told they can be seen in Exmouth most of the time as well.

[Chas]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

The whole jizz is different, they are dumpier, stockier birds without the elegance with a shorter, thicker bill + without the long plumes. Also habitat differences- Little Egrets feed mainly in or by water, whereas Cattle Egrets feed mainly in grasslands, usually in company of grazing animals.

Forgot to say, the ones I have seen had a real obsession with the herd and were waiting close for the cattle to get on the move like vultures waiting for a death! So I would say that you need to investigate any white bird that you see close to livestock!