B076 Cattle Egret

Description:

The Cattle Egret most of the time has snow-white plumage. However, during breeding season its crown, neck and breast turn orange. In non-breeding seasons, its bill is yellow to pinkish yellow, and its legs are grey-green. But in breeding season, the bill turns bright red , and the legs turn bright red or orange-brown. You will most often see it foraging in paddocks around cattle, hence its name.

My Sightings:

I’ve often seen them around cattle, but never took notice. My first photo was around cattle in Bundamba, Qld, in February 2021. I managed a blurry one before it flew off.

My next photos have been in Kalbar, Qld (July 2021), where there were many of them in the paddocks with the cattle. They don’t seem to like being too close to humans, as they fly off when I get too close.