Not meant to be there (1 Viewer)

walwyn

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #1

This was taken about 5 miles north of Marans in the marais poitevin. Photo is fuzzy as I was hand holding a 400mm len in poor light. They were in a flock of about 20 and according to my guide book aren't meant to be there.

 

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H

HH75

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #2

Hi Walwyn,
I take it that these are Cattle Egrets? Hard to be sure based on this pic, but they look okay for that species. They also seem too stocky for Little Egrets, but it's hard to say, and that species can sometimes be seen in fields!
Cattle Egret is currently spreading in France, and I wouldn't be too surprised at birds being somewhere where they weren't meant to be: how many years out of date is the guide book now...?
Harry

 

walwyn

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #3

Harry Hussey said:

Hi Walwyn,
I take it that these are Cattle Egrets?

Click to expand...

Yes my first thought was Little Egret as I stopped the car, but they were clearly more bulky and didn't really have the elongated neck you'd associate with an egret. Guide Book is circa 2001 and has no indication of the species in France.

Clearer photo attached.

 

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Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #4

I had to go through southern France by train last year and had cattle egrets there also....near Arles and near Perpignan

 

Grousemore

Senior Member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #5

walwyn said:

Yes my first thought was Little Egret as I stopped the car, but they were clearly more bulky and didn't really have the elongated neck you'd associate with an egret. Guide Book is circa 2001 and has no indication of the species in France.

Clearer photo attached.

Click to expand...

Definitely Cattle Egret, i've seen them in France as well.

 

G

godwit

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #6

"they were clearly more bulky and didn't really have the elongated neck you'd associate with an egret."

Egrets vary, your description is actually very appropriate for Cattle Egret in relation to the other species.

Dave

 

H

HH75

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #7

Hi Walwyn,
This clearer pic leaves no room for doubt: the bird in that one clearly is a Cattle Egret. The stocky structure and yellow stubby bill are good features.
Harry

 

Fuchsia

Bug Babe

• Sep 20, 2004

• #8

Hello,
I saw a flock at Grenade sur l'adour on the way down south this year and got all excited when my new Collins said they weren't present in France. Everyone soon put me straight!

Jen

 

walwyn

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #9

I'd never seen cattle egrets before and these had me a little stumped. It wasn't until two days later when we drove to Teich and I got to see one about from a hide 5 meters away that it became obvious what it was I that I'd been looking at.

The flock on the Marais Poitevin were still there about 6 days later, and visible from the "Les Hutts" reserve on the D10.

 

walwyn

Well-known member

• Sep 20, 2004

• #10

BTW Harry was quite sharpe on picking them out as Cattle Egret from the original fuzzy pic.