Cattle Egret

A medium small egret (19 inch length), this white bird is very common locally. It stays close to cattle or carabao to catch insects the larger animals disturb.

This bird was foraging at a ricefield being prepared for planting at the Iwahig Penal Colony (Palawan). As it flipped the insect for better swallowing position, I pressed the shutter button for a short burst. One of the frames got the prey in the air between the mandibles.

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Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis, resident/migrant)

Habitat: Common in pastures, ricefields and marshes.

Shooting Info – Iwahig, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, February 10, 2007, Canon 20D + EF 500 f4 L IS + Canon 1.4x TCII, 700 mm, f/9, ISO 100, 1/500 sec, manual exposure in available light, A328/3421 support.