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Bubulcus ibis
It is a stocky white bird adorned with buff plumes in the breeding season which nests in colonies, usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. The nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs. The adult Cattle Egret has few predators, but birds or mammals may raid its nests, and chicks may be lost to starvation, calcium deficiency or disturbance from other large birds. This species removes ticks and flies from cattle, but it can be a safety hazard at airfields, and has been implicated in the spread of tick-borne animal diseases.
Found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa and Europe, it has undergone a rapid expansion in its distribution and successfully colonised much of the rest of the world. Usually near bodies of water and often with other wading birds. Unlike most other herons, it feeds in relatively dry grassy habitats, often accompanying cattle or other large mammals, since it catches insect and small vertebrate prey disturbed by these animals. Some populations of the Cattle Egret are migratory and others show post-breeding dispersal.
4 Comments
The egret was in a bird sanctuary, Zwin, in Belgium. In the summer they can be seen here nonetheless, in the grassfields and marshes. I am from Spain, from Alicante. There you can see many too :-)
I did not add it in Urban Biodiversity because is not like she was in a town but rather in a sanctuary :-)
same as this spot: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/639...
great close up!
Odd location for a cattle egret...urban biodiversity!
Nice shots.