What is it?

[Shortsighted]

Unlike a Mute swan, this bird spends most of its time on land, not necessarily
near water, although this bird was near water and perched near water before
continuing its hunt for dragonflies about 30 meters from the water's edge.

[Ally]

Unlike a Mute swan, this bird spends most of its time on land, not necessarily
near water, although this bird was near water and perched near water before
continuing its hunt for dragonflies about 30 meters from the water's edge.

I'm quite lost. For a long time, I thought I was looking at the upper part of a bird's leg (hence the mushroom), but I can't think of any bird in the heron family with a yellow beak and whitish head who doesn't live near water...

[Shortsighted]

As you know, Egrets are also herons and the only one I've ever seen that carries a rosy-buff blush on its crown, especially at breeding time, is the Cattle Egret
that feeds on insects roused into movement by grazing cattle and wild grass-feeders on the Savannah.

So, you are mostly after raptors and accipiters, eh. You like to start at the top of the food chain. Impressive!
Good luck with that. Your aspirations are on a different plain than mine. I thought I would start, like a grunt, with
more common birds that are easier to find. After five years I have still not made much discovery in the realm of
the top of the food chain. You might need to take a cue from Dinu and spend a lot of time in the car chasing eagles
and camping out at Osprey marshes. Not a bad life if you ask me.


CATTLE EGRET

[Dinusaur]

Fun exercise - looks like Ally got most of them.

[Ally]

Fun exercise - looks like Ally got   most of them.

So much to learn. Hope more birders will participate and make this site a fun learning place again  

[Ally]

As you know, Egrets are also herons and the only one I've ever seen that carries a rosy-buff blush on its crown, especially at breeding time, is the Cattle Egret
that feeds on insects roused into movement by grazing cattle and wild grass-feeders on the Savannah.

So, you are mostly after raptors and accipiters, eh. You like to start at the top of the food chain. Impressive!
Good luck with that. Your aspirations are on a different plain than mine. I thought I would start, like a grunt, with
more common birds that are easier to find. After five years I have still not made much discovery in the realm of
the top of the food chain. You might need to take a cue from Dinu and spend a lot of time in the car chasing eagles
and camping out at Osprey marshes. Not a bad life if you ask me.


CATTLE EGRET

Thank you so much for the fun learning experience. Cattle Egret will be my next target to find hopefully next season. And just got my first female junco at the feeder, I am in tears, winter is here, no escape...

[Shortsighted]

Bite your tongue Ally, ... as long as you have a camera and imagination
you have all you need to survive winter and pretty much everything else.
By the way, got a female DE Junco a couple of days ago and a male today.
Winter's imminent a arrival is why I suggested RB Merganser as a subject
because they are very handsome birds and you can sometimes get close to them
if you play your cards right and use strategy. In fact, all winter diving fowl
are worth pursuing. You just need to bring the right winter gear and plant
yourself in the right place and romance a bottleneck in as much comfort as
possible.

[thouc]

I'm not sure about Orange-crowned Warbler for #4. The head is usually more gray and showing a bit of an eyebrow. I think more an immature Yellow Warbler. When was the picture taken?

/Thomas

[Shortsighted]

I think it was very early September or the very end of August.
Juvenile Yellow warblers that I've seen had a light-coloured bill and legs, almost pink.

[thouc]

That would be very early for Orange-crowned Warbler, they usually start to show up late September and October.

I think the pink colour darkens when the juvenile Yellow Warbler turns into immature fall plumage. My field guide and the online pictures I find shows a grey bill.

/Thomas

[Shortsighted]

I stand corrected, again ... and again, .... and again.
So, pink for young juvenile shading to steely gray by late-juve to non-breeding adult.
Got it.
Thanks.

[Ally]

I stand corrected, again ... and again, .... and again.
So, pink for young juvenile shading to steely gray by late-juve to non-breeding adult.
Got it.
Thanks.

Sorry for misleading you :lol: