Cattle Egret with Toad

Gallery: AvianPosted April 25, 2011309 views25 comments

Bubulcus ibis

I captured this Cattle Egret a few days ago between the rain storms. We have not seen much sun around here lately. I have many shots with the toad, but I liked this one because the head plumage was raised. It spent around ten minutes trying to get this toad down, but it finally did it.

7D, 500mm f4L IS + 1.4 tc
1/3200, f5.6, ISO 200
55% of full frame (10 of 18 mp)

All comments and critique very appreciated.
Thank You.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 25, 2011 at 9:51 PM

How come when I see these birds they have bugs in there mouth and you get something as cool as that? Awesome habitat, great view at the breeding plumage and the extended toad is a nice touch - too bad it wasn't belly-side down.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 25, 2011 at 10:01 PM

Luke, there were toads everywhere in this flooded field. The Egrets were capturing them all around me. I have several more of this Egret and others with toads. I'll post another with belly side down on my next post.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 25, 2011 at 10:12 PM

Excellent! Everything works here - great breeding colours, great pose and prey, nice habitat, good detail.
A little more selective sharpening to the feather plumes would define them more, since it's a fairly large crop.

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on April 25, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Wow... awesome image Matt! Love the legs spread of the toad, and this is also great in how you show the setting. Great job!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Heironymus on April 25, 2011 at 10:30 PM

Perfect as posted!!!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 36 Posts, 1110 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on April 25, 2011 at 10:43 PM

A beautiful image - lovely colors and light; great subject and activity. Nice composition and excellent technicals.

Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Canning on April 25, 2011 at 10:53 PM

Very nice image Matt. I wonder how it might look cropped along the bottom and more room in front

Registered on February 10, 2004, 88 Posts, 549 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on April 25, 2011 at 11:44 PM

Really a WOW image. Love how enormous that toad is. Fantastic light and clarity to the birds eye. WOW.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on April 26, 2011 at 12:30 AM

Excellent detail and exposure, Matt. I like the natural history aspect of this one and the included habitat.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on April 26, 2011 at 3:46 AM

Absolutely fantastic shot Matt; the Egret on it's own, as wonderfully exposed and detailed as it is, would have already made a terrific image, but the toady catch makes this a real winner in my book, very nicely done :^)

You must have been just as thrilled with the encounter as you were with your photographic results :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on April 26, 2011 at 6:09 AM

great shot and what a bonus with the toad

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 26, 2011 at 7:12 AM

Top notch shot Matt. Your exposure is right on the money IMO. Great habitat and overall comp. The raised feathers on the bird and the toad in beak top this one off. Very nice detail and sharpness. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 26, 2011 at 8:45 AM

Matt , great timing.I really like the comp with the hint of water and the green grasses. Poo wittle fwoggie!

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on April 26, 2011 at 9:03 AM

This is really gorgeous and very exceptional Matt. I like it for the same reasons you mention, toad and raised crest, the habitat is very pleasing also. Congrats on a great image.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Avi Hirschfield on April 26, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Matt I like the detail you have in the bird around the head and the partial shadow of the frog.The green BG just makes a perfect backdrop

Registered on November 1, 2003, 518 Posts, 2114 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on April 26, 2011 at 10:38 AM

Very nice, I like the action you caught, nice and sharp. Good color and IMHO the composition is right on! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 26, 2011 at 8:55 PM

As everyone else stated...great shot! Beautiful exposure and the toad is such a plus. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 26, 2011 at 9:48 PM

This has to be one of the best Cattle Egret with prey shots I've ever seen..
Nothing but praise here, it's a winning image Matt.
BTW, I think the belly side up is the way to go..It's much lighter and the toad stands out nicely.
Very well done!!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on April 26, 2011 at 11:45 PM

nice shot! we've got egrets showing up here and I've been wanting to get one fishing for the frogs/fish in the canals.

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on April 27, 2011 at 4:32 AM

Excellent!

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on April 27, 2011 at 11:28 AM

Cool shot, Matt

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on April 27, 2011 at 4:31 PM

Wow, wonderful image all the way around, great job on the whites, everything comes together on this, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on April 27, 2011 at 5:17 PM

Matt, you've captured the wild look I always think of when seeing these cattle egrets. Guess its the yellow eyes and mane like feathers. Beautiful image.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 28, 2011 at 12:59 PM

Great image, Matt.
Beautiful bird, great detail, nice back gound and the prey makes the shot special.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 29, 2011 at 12:59 AM

Matt,
Sorry to just now be getting to this image but I've been busy. What terrific detail you captured and the whites are perfect. Like you, I love the fact that the plumage was raised on his head. Beautiful Image Matt. Well done.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments