For Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), courtship starts with the male arriving at the nesting area. He collects nesting materials, either for a new nest or to repair an old one (above left). While defending his site from other males, he tries to attract a female. Once a female responds, bonding will begin with courtship. There will be stretching of necks and bill pointing skywards (above right). Nuptial plumes and brightly coloured bare parts will be displayed. Mutual preening also occurs, so will bill clapping and loud squawking. Another common display is when one lifts up its wings, draws back its neck and pecks at the other bird.

Following courtship, the herons will proceed to nest building. The male brings nesting materials while the female does the construction. Copulation usually follows when the male mounts the female and precariously balances on her back, using his outstretched wings for balance (above).

According to Mike Tan, “The Grey Herons here started looking ready to mate around July this year (2009) when their legs and bills turn reddish. By August the birds have completed bonding.

“It is also comical to see Grey Herons landing at the wrong nest only to chased off. Apparently there is some authentication. Some password, if you will?”

John Vickerman adds, “Another great series of pictures from you recording your observations of nest behaviour. The mutual preening behaviour consolidates the pair bond, and probably the landing at another pair’s nest may well have had more sinister intentions such as stealing a few twigs for their own nest building - easy pickings if you can get away with it!”

“When seeing a tree full of nests, I was naive to think that all will mate, hatch, fledge at the same time. Well, it doesn’t quite happen that way. Some will be mating, others sitting on their eggs, yet others raising their chicks. All under one roof, so to speak,” adds Mike.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

Chris Lee a.k.a. chrisle023 photographed a Malaysian Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) in the process of changing its juvenile plumage to an adult dress.

The duller juvenile plumage is about to take on the darker dress of the adult with the gradual appearance of patches of brownish feathers on its neck and back.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

An adult Jungle Myna (Acridotheresfuscus torquatus) and a non-breeding Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) were seen with a juvenile water buffalo by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS on 29th December 2009 (above). The location was around the ex-mining pools in Gua Tempurung, Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia.

These birds followed the water buffalo as the latter moved through low vegetation, disturbing insects along the way. The birds then pounced on the exposed insects. The myna was also observed inspecting the ear, nose and head of the buffalo, apparently searching for insects (left).

Cattle egret is so-called because of its association with cattle. An earlier post shows a similar association between a Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) and a foraging pig.

In Singapore, Javan Mynas are commonly seen around grasscutters. They also follow rubbish trucks.

“I had a brief encounter with what I suspect to be a Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), listed as globally threatened and an uncommon winter visitor in Singapore. As I’m just a leisure photographer and seeing this species for the first time, would appreciate verification and confirmation from the experts.

“It was low tide last Sunday morning. I was at an exposed stretch of mudflat along the coast, indulging in my hobby of avian photography. There were several birds foraging in the distance; mostly Little Egrets (E. garzetta) and a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea). Engrossed in capturing images of the Grey Heron, which was having some difficulties swallowing a huge fish, I did not pay much attention to a solitary bird which had suddenly appeared in my camera’s view finder. I presumed that it was one of the Little Egrets, which were rather common around the area.

“After observing the heron finishing off its catch successfully, I became aware that the bird, which had earlier blocked my view, as it was between the heron and me, was definitely not a Little Egret. Its legs were yellowish-green in colour while the Little should be black. Its upper mandible was mostly rust colour and its lower mandible mostly yellow for about two-third of its length. The Little’s mandibles should be black.

“A crest was also observed, albeit not all the time, swaying occasionally when caught in the gentle breeze. The difference between the egrets became more apparent when one Little flew above the suspected Chinese and landed nearby (above left). The Chinese reacted by raising and displaying its prominent crest. Images of the two egrets captured together showed the two nape plumes of the Little Egret being less conspicuous than the prominent ‘headdress’ worn on the head of the Chinese Egret (above right).

“Shortly after, another Little walked past the suspected Chinese. This provided an opportunity to compare sizes of the egrets. Even though its distance was further from the camera, the suspected Chinese Egret looked larger than the Little Egret. A brief display of plume feathers from the Chinese occurred as the birds walked nonchalantly passed each other.

“The encounter lasted only a brief 10 minutes with the suspected Chinese taking off and flying away.”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
27th January 2010

Lena Chow videoed a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) foraging in shallow water recently. According to Lena, “Little Egret in a stirring dance performance, complete with dancing boots, enjoying dim sum – a little bit of everything, a lot of prawns…”

As the bird moved from one point to another, it used one of its feet to stir the water (above left). As the marine animals hiding in the mud got disturbed from their hiding place, it lunged at them with its long, sharp bill. At one point where there was a large piece of debris in the water (piece of flat wood/stone?), the egret used its foot to shake it (above right).

Where marine organisms were swimming around openly, the egret simply caught them by scampering here and there.