HERONS, STORKS, IBIS, SPOONBILL

Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus.
I like this shot - of course it's a lousy portrait, but it gives the essential character of Little Bitterns - they are damned good at hiding. Aspro Pool, Cyprus. April 2012 ³

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax.
Asprokremnos Pool, Cyprus. April 2011 ³

Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax, immature.
Bishop's Pool, Cyprus. September 2010 ³

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis.
Laguna de Fuente de Piedra. November 2011 ³

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis.
With a centipede, probably Scolopendra cingulatus, Phasouri reedbeds, Cyprus. April 2012 ³

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis.
Albufeira, Mallorca. June 2009 ²

Squacco heron Ardeola ralloides.
Phasouri reedbeds, Cyprus. April 2011 ³

Squacco heron Ardeola ralloides.
Bishop's Pool, Cyprus. April 2010 ²

Little Egret Egretta garzetta.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2009 ²

Little Egret Egretta garzetta.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. February 2007 ¹

Little Egret Egretta garzetta.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2009 ²

Little Egret Egretta garzetta.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. February 2007 ¹

Grey Heron Ardea cinera.
Titchwell, Norfolk. September 2007 ¹

Grey Heron Ardea cinera.
Bishop's Pool, Cyprus. September 2010 ³

Grey Heron Ardea cinera.
Guadalhorce, Andalucia. November 2011 ³

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea.
Albufeira, Mallorca. June 2009 ²

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus,
Phasouri reedbeds, Cyprus. April 2012 ³

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus, immature.
Bishop's Pool, Cyprus. September 2010 ³

Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. February 2007 ¹

Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2011 ³
This bird was seen and photographed in almost the same location as the bird shown above and photographed 4 years earlier - ergo, it is probably the same bird. In 2011 it had 'acclimatised' to the extent that it had developed the habit of flying to the beach cafe and walking inside to be fed.

Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2011 ³

White Stork Ciconia ciconia.
Bishop's Pool, Cyprus. September 2010 ³

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodea.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. February 2007 ¹

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodea.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2009 ²

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodea.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2011 ³

Spoonbill Platalea leucorodea.
Gorriones Beach, Fuerteventura. January 2009 ²

¹Canon EOS 400D, 100-400 IS USM lens
²Canon EOS 50D, 100-400 IS USM lens.
³Canon EOS 7D, 500mm IS USM lens + 1.4 extender.