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| Intermediate Egret Julia Creek Qld |
A few weeks ago when category 5 Cyclone Marcia was bearing down on the Central Queensland coast, and all was still and dry in the west, I went to investigate a guttural croak from the other side
of the bulrushes in the creek at the RV rest area at Julia Creek and disturbed
an Intermediate Egret (Egreta intermedia).
He flew up into a dead tree and I was able to
see that he was in partial breeding plumage.
He seemed to be alone and I wondered whether there was, somewhere out of
sight, a colony of these birds, or even a nest.
It seems unlikely, but on my return to the area I will do a little more
investigating.
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| Intermediate Egret Julia Creek Qld |
The long fine courtship plumes and the apple green facial
skin during the breeding season enhance the graceful appearance of this
normally quiet and placid bird. The Intermediate
egret is common in the east and north of Australia.
Although all the reference maps show the bird is present in this area I have only seen the occasional Intermediate Egret, usually standing on the edge of a bore drain, during
my travels along the Flinders Highway. Perhaps he had fled the extreme weather in the upper atmosphere further to the east and ended up in Julia Creek, perhaps not. Whatever the reason the bird was there, I hope that the permanent water at
the RV rest area will encourage others to come and continue to
entrance me.
Claire Wood
Email: JustClaireWood@gmail.com
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/Egrets-cattle-and-intermediate
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