Breeding Birds of South Florida

[brewmaster15]

Pat those are great images.. now as to if this bird is a snowy egret x little blue hybrid. I really cant say for sure. There are a bunch of cases of them documented but as "hybrids" they are variable. The problem is compounded because little blue herons start out white looking very similar to snowy egrets.. then as they mature they molt and start changing to a solids slate greyblue bird. Depending on the point in the transition you get a white bird with varying amounts of greyblue as its changing. Many times I think people see this and think its a hybrid when it may not be. Your bird has the bill color of the little blue and the way its sitting on that branch is as a little blue might do. Alot of the more likely hybrids I have seen pictures of seem to have more yellow above the bill.. a snowy trait. So is it or not. I'm honestly not sure. I tend to think not and its a little blue in molt but thats just because I have seen alot of them. Snowy egrets have been documented to hybridize with little blue and tricolored herons, so it is a possibility... but I really dont know how many cases that are reported are really hybrids. Immature little blue herons are really variable.. what I do know is they are cool shots you got there of a littleblue or little blue hybrid.
Al

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Al, I thought I saw some feather development at the back of the head and along the back that suggested snowy but not sure
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Some of the setting changes on the Z9 lead to better capture rates for bird in flight and I got plenty practice.

Glossy Ibis in Breeding Color

Glossy Ibis in Breeding Color by Pat Husband, on Flickr

Tri-Color Heron in Breeding Color

Tri-Color Heron in Breeding Color by Pat Husband, on Flickr

White Ibis in Breeding Color

White Ibis in Breeding Color by Pat Husband, on Flickr

[brewmaster15]

Nice BIF shots pat..That tricolored Heron shot is pretty impressive for it being made at iso 4500 and your 400mm with a 2x teleconverter. Very impressive indeed.

[brady]

Thank you all for the info. Al, I'm going to look at the d7500. I know my d80 is rather old
but I also still use my f2ooo film camera and I don't own a cell phone. So you know who you are dealing with.
My kids don't call me dad, they call me the old dinosaur.
Jay

[Second Hand Pat]

Nice BIF shots pat..That tricolored Heron shot is pretty impressive for it being made at iso 4500 and your 400mm with a 2x teleconverter. Very impressive indeed.

Thanks Al, I love that tri-colored heron image. Shows the bird off nicely. I also love the 400mm with the TC 2.0 and it's not too heavy
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

I just love the male red-wing blackbirds. Such showy little guys
Pat

I know there is something down this branch by Pat Husband, on Flickr

DZ9_8142-Edit by Pat Husband, on Flickr

I have something to say by Pat Husband, on Flickr

[Greg-Florida]

Some of the setting changes on the Z9 lead to better capture rates for bird in flight and I got plenty practice.

Glossy Ibis in Breeding Color

Tri-Color Heron in Breeding Color

White Ibis in Breeding Color

Just amazing pictures Pat, especially the BIF's. I'm really enjoying this... Thank you for your efforts to share :-)

[Second Hand Pat]

Just amazing pictures Pat, especially the BIF's. I'm really enjoying this... Thank you for your efforts to share :-)

Glad you are enjoying the photos Greg and always happy to share
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

The rookery was full of Wood Storks and I have not observed their mating habits. When the birds are actively mating they hit their bill together. A most interesting and distinct sound.

Mating Wood Storks by Pat Husband, on Flickr

[dagray]

Pat, the yellow headed blackbirds are characters also

We have both here

Always love looking at your photos Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat, the yellow headed blackbirds are characters also

We have both here

Always love looking at your photos Pat

Thank you Dave, I looked up yellow headed blackbirds. What a gorgeous bird.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

I was walking towards this Red-Wing Blackbird as it was just in the light of the setting sun when it took off and headed right for me. Of course I had to take it's photo as it flew towards me but it ducked below the light from the sun. So these were dark photos but they came out ok I think.

Flight of the Red-Wing Blackbird

Flight of the Red-Wing Blackbird 1 by Pat Husband, on Flickr

Flight of the Red-Wing Blackbird 2 by Pat Husband, on Flickr

Flight of the Red-Wing Blackbird 3 by Pat Husband, on Flickr

[Greg-Florida]

I was walking towards this Red-Wing Blackbird as it was just in the light of the setting sun when it took off and headed right for me. Of course I had to take it's photo as it flew towards me but it ducked below the light from the sun. So these were dark photos but they came out ok I think.

Flight of the Red-Wing Blackbird

I LOVE the lighting! Adds a lot of character to the images. I wish we had a like button for posts!

[Second Hand Pat]

I LOVE the lighting! Adds a lot of character to the images. I wish we had a like button for posts!

Thank you Greg, the red-wing blackbird in flight was pure luck
Pat