An Egret a Day.. Keeps the squirts at bay…

Well an Egret a day, they tell me, keeps the squirts at bay… and these are just a sample of what I’ve capture lately…

But a heron a day keeps the squirts at bay..

Do you know why their feet are yellow ?? So they don’t bite their own feet under water… No they walked through yellow paint… or they like yellow socks…. who knows the answer…. I don’t…

and this bloke can attest to the fact that a heron a day keeps the squirts at bay… or so he thought…

What a capture Bulldog… who poops on their own door step ?? Only this guy, and right in my face too…

Squacco Heron

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides)

Now this is one I did not know and had to ask help to ID it… never having seen one before, and then on top of this it is a Juvenile bird….

I’m led to believe it  breeds in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East, and winters in South Africa. As I said this is a first for me but I considered it a good find.

It is a small heron, 44–47 centimetres (17–19 in) long, of which the body is 20–23 centimetres (7.9–9.1 in), with 80–92 centimetres (31–36 in) wingspan.

It is a stocky species with a short neck, short thick bill and buff-brown back. In summer, adults have long neck feathers. Its appearance is transformed in flight, when it looks very white due to the colour of the wings. The Squacco heron’s breeding habitat is marshy wetlands in warm countries.

The birds nest in small colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs. 3-4 eggs are laid. They feed on fish, frogs and insects. Wow now all of that I had to take out of books, so we learn together with this one….

Cattle Egret and a Good Morning Sunrise..

A few more not so good photos but I enjoy them.. and a sunrise over the dam in the nature reserve…

Little Egret

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

The Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.

The Little Egret is a small white heron. The adult Little Egret is 55-65 cm long with a 88-106 cm wingspan. Its plumage is all white. It has long black legs with yellow feet and a slim black bill. In the breeding season, the adult has two long nape plumes and red between the bill and eyes. The Little Egret is generally seen singly or in small loose groups.

Little Egrets are the liveliest hunters among herons and egrets, with a wide variety of techniques. They may patiently stalk prey in shallow waters. Or stand on one leg and stir the mud with the other to scare up prey. Or better yet, stand on one leg and wave the other bright yellow foot over the water surface to lure aquatic prey into range.

Here is a few photos I took of one stalking it’s prey…. and another standing looking on….