Birders' Nest

[Elgarian Redux]

Will be away for a bit; I leave you with a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl:

(Costa Rica)

One of your relations, no less!

A Baglafecht Weaver:

(Kenya)

What colours!

And a Common Goldeneye

(Sweden)

But not common by nature. Look at the water, and the way it contrasts with the duck. Extraordinary.

Thank you for these.

[Elgarian Redux]

Looked out of the window this morning and there was Mr Pheasantosaur at the end of the garden. Grabbed camera, got a shot (but it doesn't bear close inspection, I'm afraid - too much shake and blur). And then, alas, he fluttered back into the field. It always feels special if he comes into the garden and stays.

[Elgarian Redux]

But guess what? A few hours later Mr Pheasantosaurus came back and wandered around the garden, and I was able to get some better shots.

[Elgarian Redux]

And one more. Isn't he a handsome fellow? (Head a bit blurry in this one.)

[Elgarian Redux]

All quiet on the bird-watcher's front at present, except in our garden which is a hive of activity. A couple of photos attached just to keep everything ticking along. The goldfinch is from the garden yesterday, and the female stonechat from the Roeburndale hills, always, always, staying one careful flight ahead of my attempts to get a closer, crisper shot.

[Iota]

Will be away for a bit; I leave you with a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl:

(Costa Rica)

Colour coordination between premises and resident seems perfect!

And a Common Goldeneye

(Sweden)

What a shot!

All quiet on the bird-watcher's front at present, except in our garden which is a hive of activity. A couple of photos attached just to keep everything ticking along. The goldfinch is from the garden yesterday ..

Nice pic, Elgarian! Love the splashy butterscotch and grey markings on its face. You're lucky to have such visitors!

[JBS]

Some egrets having lunch today

[JBS]

A different pair of egrets. The yogi-like stance is a pose they seem to like when resting.

[JBS]

And branching out into quadrapeds

[Iota]

A different pair of egrets. The yogi-like stance is a pose they seem to like when resting.

Haha, seems they have an almost pigeon-like indifference to human company! I imagine @Elgarian Redux would pine for such accommodating behaviour from his local Stonechats! 

Apparently ornithologists don't know exactly why egrets/flamingos etc stand on one leg, but AI overview tells me that latest evidence suggests it is to conserve energy, as muscles and tendons can lock to support the body. Also to conserve heat standing in cold water, and look less threatening to prey, as one leg can resemble a plant.

On the subject of egrets this pretty amazing photo, showing a fish catching a fish, about to be caught by an egret (?), is one of the runners up in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. A flamingo also featured, fared less well alas so I won't put it here. You can see all the contenders and winner here.

[JBS]

Haha, seems they have an almost pigeon-like indifference to human company! I imagine @Elgarian Redux would pine for such accommodating behaviour from his local Stonechats! 

Apparently ornithologists don't know exactly why egrets/flamingos etc stand on one leg, but AI overview tells me that latest evidence suggests it is to conserve energy, as muscles and tendons can lock to support the body. Also to conserve heat standing in cold water, and look less threatening to prey, as one leg can resemble a plant.

On the subject of egrets this pretty amazing photo, showing a fish catching a fish, about to be caught by an egret (?), is one of the runners up in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. A flamingo also featured, fared less well alas so I won't put it here. You can see all the contenders and winner here.

These photos were actually taken several feet away. They look close-up because the cropping feature on my phone's photo editor automatically enlarges what the cropping leaves in.

In reality, any time I got less than three or four feet away from them, the egrets start walking away.

[Elgarian Redux]

Some egrets having lunch today

I know nothing about American birds, but are you sure these are egrets? The long curved beak makes this seem more like an Ibis, but whether the ibis distribution makes that possible, I just don't know. Egrets have long beaks, but they're basically straight and these are definitely curved. The leg colour I faintly think, also whispers 'ibis', as far as I know. But I say all this with super-tentativeness because my ignorance is massive.

[Elgarian Redux]

A different pair of egrets. The yogi-like stance is a pose they seem to like when resting.

Again, superbly exciting birds, but look at those curved beaks. Is there anything other than an ibis that would fit?

[Elgarian Redux]

And branching out into quadrapeds

I'm guessing, but is that an Iguana?

Wow. How big was that fellow? Was he just wandering freely among the trees?

[JBS]

Again, superbly exciting birds, but look at those curved beaks. Is there anything other than an ibis that would fit?

Google Lens says you are correct.

[Elgarian Redux]

Haha, seems they have an almost pigeon-like indifference to human company! I imagine @Elgarian Redux would pine for such accommodating behaviour from his local Stonechats! 

Apparently ornithologists don't know exactly why egrets/flamingos etc stand on one leg, but AI overview tells me that latest evidence suggests it is to conserve energy, as muscles and tendons can lock to support the body. Also to conserve heat standing in cold water, and look less threatening to prey, as one leg can resemble a plant.

On the subject of egrets this pretty amazing photo, showing a fish catching a fish, about to be caught by an egret (?), is one of the runners up in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025. A flamingo also featured, fared less well alas so I won't put it here. You can see all the contenders and winner here.

I was questioning whether this could possibly be genuine, and sought around to find more info. I found this additional photo, which makes it seem clear that it really is genuine:

[Elgarian Redux]

Google Lens says you are correct.

Oh Bravo! And three cheers for the Oracle that is Google Lens!
Thanks Jeffrey.

[JBS]

I'm guessing, but is that an Iguana?

Wow. How big was that fellow? Was he just wandering freely among the trees?

It is indeed. The photo makes it look a bit bigger and closer than it is in reality.  It was about 2 to 2.5 feet long from nose to tip of its tail.  One of three I saw on my walk. I live near a lake. Iguanas often like lakesides.

[Elgarian Redux]

Haha, seems they have an almost pigeon-like indifference to human company! I imagine @Elgarian Redux would pine for such accommodating behaviour from his local Stonechats! 

Indeed, and not only stonechats. No little egret has ever ventured close enough for a decent shot. And no ibis, not ever, anywhere!!!

[Elgarian Redux]

It is indeed. The photo makes it look a bit bigger and closer than it is in reality.  It was about 2 to 2.5 feet long from nose to tip of its tail.  One of three I saw on my walk. I live near a lake. Iguanas often like lakesides.

Oh I'll settle for a maximum of 2.5 feet long!!! Are they as scary as they look?