Yesterday, Mr. Woody flew down to my backyard, so I got a better shot of him. He has the most gorgeous feathers. I especially love his bib, but he has a face that only a mother could love.
So many of these water birds have bright white feathers, and as they fish around in muddy ponds, I couldn’t help but wonder how they keep them so clean. The Great Egret has about 18,000 feathers, and each one is kept meticulously clean. I think he must spend more time on his ablutions than even I do on mine, and hubby would tell you that’s not very possible.
The two White Ibis who were foraging in the newly mowed grass yesterday, also had ‘Omo White’ feathers. To look this perfect, every day they must remove dust, dirt and parasites from their feathers and then align each feather in the optimum position relative to adjacent feathers and body shape. What a wonder they are! I often wish I had feathers rather than hair. I could never hope to look this good, but the beak might look a bit out of place though, and I’m thinking that with such long beaks, birds can’t really kiss, so I guess I’ll just be content with what I have.
Happy Thursday everyone.
ha ha un discorso molto saggio da fare, ognuno deve accontentarsi se non vuole peggiorare!
Yes, I think the Wood Stork was definitely calling the shots that day. 🙂
You get Mr. Woody, and I get pooping pigeons. Well, that’s life 😀
You are so funny. Here’s a peck on the cheek. xox
Hehehe. I do my best, Marsha. Pecking you back. x 😀
I love the texture of birds feathers and have quite a few in my photos. Mr. Woody definitely qualifies only for mother love with those looks as you say. Lovely post 😀
Thanks so much, LIz. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Words got out there’s an ongoing modelling assigmnent 😉 … so what’s a bird to do but to groom fluff preen and sashay along the grass catwalk …..
Super pictures Sylvia . Happy weekend !
Thanks, Poppy. Yes, that’s a fun thought. They do sashay on by, especially the Great Egret. What a Super Model! 🙂 Happy weekend to you too. xx
I’m starting to feel I’m getting to know your regal birds, Sylvia.
Thanks, Ruth. I’m glad you feel properly introduced. 😃
This was a VERY good one, Sylvia! Made me laugh so hard, and reflect on similar musings I have when I see all these perfectly white birds. And you’re right about the face of the wood stork 😀
Thanks, Helen. You and I obviously have similar crazy thoughts. 🙂
I think you might be right 😀
Beautiful birds, Sylvia! 😀 They just love preening themselves. I have a small group who fly in when I’m watering the plants and they hog the hose to get their free daily “bath and feather fluff” 😀
How lovely! Do you provide bubble bath and a blow dry? 😆
Haaa – I might offer those as added extras 😉
hum, well, I never really thought about birds grooming themselves so extensively… apparently I thought it all just happened. Like magic! 😉
Hahaha Yes, just like some men think that we women can get ready to go out in no time flat. 😀
Wunderschön wünsche einen schönen zweiten Advent lieber Gruß und Umarmung Gislinde
Thanks so much, Gislinde. Hugs to you too. 🙂
There is a kind of ungainly elegance with these birds it seems- nice shots!
Thanks, Lisa. “Ungainly elegance” sums it up very nicely. 🙂
18000…..that is really some work to do. You are lucky to watch them so closely and being able to get such wonderful shots. They are very beautiful birds! Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much, Ann Christine. Yes, I’m very fortunate to get such a great ringside seat. 🙂
18,000 feathers! goodness that’s loads, I wonder who had the task of counting 🙂
I was also wondering that. 😕
Gorgeous shots!
Thanks, Fi. 🙂
I wonder how many people remember ‘omo white’. It’s all about vanish and ariel today 🙂
Am I showing my age, Tandy? 😳 I think Omo is still around in England and maybe even here in the USA. I’ll have to check next time I go shopping for detergent. 🙂
You start out wishing for feathers. Next you’ll be wanting to fly! Oh, wait… you’ve already done that! 😉
Hahaha. Yes, I guess I’ve done my Bird Woman act, but still got no feathers yet. 🙂
Awesome pictures! I think the features may have special coating to keep the dust away and water repellent – maintenace free 🙂
Thanks, YC. Yes, their preening sessions help to spread this repellent all the way down the length of their feathers.
Fantastic shot of this majestic bird – all ready to go!
Thanks so much, Mary. 🙂
You are a happy woman so much special birds in the backyard
Yes, I’m very fortunate indeed, Marylou. 🙂
18,000 feathers? Well that might take a while to get ready for the day. 🙂
This is true, Sue. You’d also have a job getting your cycling helmet on. 🙂
SYLVIA! Totally up close and personal. So glad you found me again too! Cheers and Merry Christmas! xo
Thnks so much, Margie. Best wishes to you and yours. 🙂 xx
Mr.Woody does have a nice bib. I like the way the sun reflect off of their feathers.
I’m with you Sylvia, they’re fascinating to watch. Great captures on all the photos.
Issy 😎
Thanks so much, Issy. 🙂
Mr. Woody is very good looking 🙂
Thanks, I’ll tell him you said so, next time I see him. 🙂
🙂
Our Ibis could do with a lesson in hygiene from yours. Ours have black legs and beaks and their wings have black tips. Their white feathers are usually not pristine either. They can be rather annoying because in some places they’ve become scavengers like seagulls and try to steal people’s food. I like yours much better.
Hahaha. Maybe your Ibis have lost the art of primping and preening. I see that they are culled in parts of Sydney because they’ve become dirty and smelly nuisances. 😦
I’m not surprised. It’s the same in Brisbane. They are a real pest around the Southbank precinct in the city. There is a waterbird habitat where I live and they have taken over to the point where there are no other birds. I think a cull happened a couple of years ago but it doesn’t seem to have made a difference. The balance of nature is a bit out when one species takes over like that.
I do love watching them hunt for food and socializing in their communities…Great photos (18,000 feathers, wow).
Me too, Charlie, although I do get a bit worried when I don’t see them catching any decent sized fish.
It really is amazing how these beautiful white birds keep so pristine and glowing! It’s hard to believe the Great Egret has 18,000 feathers! But I guess, if we’re lucky, we have at least that many hairs on our heads, or more! 🙂
Yes this is true, Cathy, but we don’t have to clean each individual hair with our ‘beaks’. 😀
Wow, that would be time consuming! We’d never get a single thing done! 🙂
We spend time in the SoCal desert and enjoy these beautiful egrets that frequent the water hazard outside our kitchen window. They always inspire me and you will find them frequenting my poetry. Beautiful photography.
Thanks so much, Victoria. I’ll come over and read some of your poetry. 🙂
It takes work to look this good…hence the constant preening, and it shows 🙂 Beautiful all of them…and I do the same with my cats, in wonder that they keep themselves so clean. Lovely photos Sylvia, and I too love Mr Wood Stork’s bib 😀 xx
Thanks so much, Sherri. Yes, it does require lots of preening to stay beautiful. 😉
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Okay, I’ll have a look, Cheryl. 🙂
Mr. Woody looks like he doesn’t want to get his feet dirty. Great photos, Sylvia!
Thanks, Jill. Yes, I agree with you. He looks like me when I have to step over a puddle in my sandals. 🙂
beautiful pictures, Sylvia! 🙂 these birds are immaculately clean! daily self-grooming/preening is just their nature! its truly a wonder! that’s a lot of feather to clean for The Great Egret! 🙂
Thanks, Lola. Yes, it takes lots of work to stay so pristine. 🙂
Wow! 18,000 feathers sure are a lot! Clearly he doesn’t blog Sylvia, otherwise he wouldn’t have had any time to keep himself clean. LOL!
The two white Ibis are so adorable. Such long beaks, just like the Hadidas we have here. It’s fun watching them dig those long beaks into the grass looking for crickets and bugs.
I wonder if we will be able to keep our feather hair so clean like these birds do? We will have to grow long beaks as well then. hahahaha!
Great shots of these beauties there where you live and thanks for sharing. 😀
Hahaha Yes, no time for blogging in the animal kingdom. 🙂 Yes, the Hadidas are also part of the Ibis family.
It takes a lot of preening to look as good as they do. 🙂 Pretty birds!
Thanks, Geralyn. Yes lots of work, just like us women.:)
I guess if you had to wear the same dress/feathers every day, you’d try to keep it clean too. Beautiful shots!
Hmmm……..I’m sure you’re right. Not sure I’d like to wear the same outfit every day. I was just thinking about the hair bit.
Don’t always get to comment on your posts Sylvia, but I do enjoy your bird shots even if they only fly by in my reader. I am equally puzzled how our little Snowy stays so immaculately white, especially in a dusty environment. I get dirtier than he does! So I’m not really surprised with their Omo feathers. And, lovely photos as ever 🙂
Thanks so much, Kate. 🙂