View allAll Photos Tagged Intermediate
U702 running 2x1 glides downhill towards the URR only 10 miles from interchanging the train of ore pellets. The former B&LE intermediates still stand guard here on what used to be a signal bridge for two mains.
“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in while, or the light won't come in.” - Alan Alda
My first shot of the bird. Also called the Median Egret, Smaller Egret, or Yellow-billed Egret. It is a medium-sized Heron that is a resident breeder from east Africa across the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia and Australia. The Intermediate Egret stalks its prey methodically in shallow coastal or fresh water, including flooded fields. It eats fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects.
Some shiny new signal equipment is active along the CN Sprague Subdivision's Minnesota section, such as this intermediate signal north of Warroad at Birch Drive heading into Warroad Estates. Got to appreciate the authentic Canadian railroad details along the Sprague's 40-some mile route through Roseau and Lake of the Woods Counties like the yellow L, DV, and R plaques and three-headed signals. A hot intermodal train has just entered the U.S. and getting up to speed for a quick journey under Lake of the Woods. CN 8003 leads the charge east and has a clear route through the Swift, Blueberry, and Graceton sidings back into Canada at Baudette, USA - Rainy River, Canada
Led by a 70MAC overhaul, L452 splits the B&O intermediates at New Elizabtehtown. Standing ominously next to the CPLs is a modern Safetran replacement mast, awaiting activation. On November 13th, all the signals between Seymour and Mitchell were cut over, eliminating about half of the CPLs still active across the Indiana subdivision. With new replacement bases already appearing for the remaining CPLs between Butlerville and Lawrenceburg, the clock is ticking for the B&O Mecca that is the Indiana Subdivision.
An injured Egret, enjoying the water that's running over the dam wall. The water hasn't run over the wall for the last two years. It's great to see this again. Hopefully, more birds will arrive shortly to enjoy the fishing. Fogg Dam, Northern Territory, Australia
This medium-sized heron in the genus Egretta or Mesophoyx is a resident breeder from east Africa across the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia and Australia. Size-wise this Egret sits between the Great Egret and the smaller white Egrets like the Little Egret and Cattle Egret.
Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
Intermediate egret
Scientific Name: Ardea intermedia
Description: The plumage of the Intermediate Egret is wholly white. During the breeding season, adults have long filamentous plumes emerging from the scapulars, and dense plumes from the breast. The bare parts vary with the stage of the breeding cycle: during courtship the bill is deep pink to bright red with a yellow tip and green base, the lores are bright green, the eyes red and the legs ruby red; when laying, the bill is dull red, the lores are dull, pale green, and the eye is yellow. By the time of hatching, the bill is dull orange-yellow, the lores are yellow or green-yellow, the eye is yellow and the upper portion of the leg yellow with the lower portion grey-black. During non-breeding season, they lose their plumes, the bill turns orange-yellow, the lores are green-yellow or yellow, the eyes are horn-coloured and the upper portions of the legs vary, with the lower portion black. Juveniles appear like non-breeding adults.
Similar Species: The Intermediate Egret is similar to Australiaâs other all-white egrets. The Little Egret is distinguished by its long, black bill. The Great Egret is distinguished by its proportionally longer neck and flat-headed appearance and has a distinct gape that extends well behind the eye. Cattle Egrets are much shorter and dumpier with a stouter bill.
Location: Within Australia, the Intermediate Egret can be found at wetlands throughout the northern third of the continent as well as the eastern third. They are generally absent from Tasmania.
Habitat: Mostly a denizen of the shallows in terrestrial wetlands, the Intermediate Egret prefers freshwater swamps, billabongs, floodplains and wet grasslands with dense aquatic vegetation, and is only occasionally seen in estuarine or intertidal habitats.
Feeding: Aquatic animals, principally fish and frogs, are the main food of the Intermediate Egret. They are usually hunted by standing and waiting, then stabbing at the prey with its dagger-like beak.
Breeding: Intermediate Egrets build a shallow platform of interwoven sticks, placed on a horizontal branch in a tree that is usually standing in water. They generally lay three or four pale-green eggs which are incubated by both sexes. The nestlings are fed by both parents, who regurgitate food, either into the nest or directly into the beak of the young bird.
(Source: birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/intermediate-egret)
© Chris Burns 2020
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Not long after the afternoon sun broke free from the clouds that had lingered over the area for most of the day, Q39331 highballs west through the intermediates at QD117 with a pair of CP 60s in charge and three new UP deliveries trailing.
The intermediate egret (Ardea intermedia) is a medium-sized white heron with a relatively short yellow or bicolored bill and, in breeding, exceptionally long back plumes.
Shooting Raton Pass (properly) is not for the faint-hearted, but the classic Santa Fe signals and infrastructure surrounded by gorgeous landscapes was not to be passed up. Aside from Amtrak’s modern passenger equipment, Raton is truly a trip back in time.
To kick off our second day, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, train No. 3, throttles up passing the intermediate signals at Jansen shortly after departing the station at Trinidad, CO. Fresh snow from the night before and clear morning skies was a real treat.
March 11, 2022
Jansen, Colorado
C840-12 rolls north on the ex-L&N Rockhouse Subdivision past the searchlight intermediates at Coolidge.
CP train 421 strolls under the intermediate signals at Mount Pleasant with an uncommon SD70ACu leader up front, and an AC44 pushing mid-train. My favourite part was when the sun came out two-hundred feet behind me while I was here set up for a cloudy shot, man I sure loved that...
Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
....from a walk through Oxley Creek Common - the wrens are like flies at the moment - there's a lot. Also a lot of raptors, egrets and "bin chickens" (white Ibis), because the paddocks have been mowed for hay bails.
Oxley Creek Common is home to a remarkable variety of birds. An experienced observer can find as many as 70 species in one hour of observation during the spring about 10% of all Australia's bird species and several times the diversity one could find walking the suburbs. In the past eleven years over 190 species have been recorded on the Common. (Source: University of Queensland)
Intermediate egret (I think?)
Scientific Name: Ardea intermedia
Description: The Intermediate Egret is intermediate in size between the Little Egret and the Great Egret. It is white with yellow bill and grey legs. In the breeding season the bill turns reddish and it develops plumes on back and chest. Males and females are similar in appearance.
Size: 60cm - 70cm
Habitat: wetlands, swamps, flooded grassland
Food: fish, frog, crustaceans, insects
Breeding: nests in colonies in trees in swamps or mangroves. The nest is made of sticks. Lays three or four pale blue oval eggs in a stick nest. Often forms breeding colonies with other species of herons.
Range: Found in eastern and northern parts of Australia, including Victoria and most of New South Wales and Queensland, tropical north of Western Australia and Northern Territory. The Intermediate Egret is also found in Africa, India, south east Asia.
(Source: www.ozanimals.com)
© Chris Burns 2018
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
Our Daily Challenge ... hobbies.
Bird watching is one component of my photography obsession. During the heat of summer most of the water birds I can see from my backyard disappeared ... presumably to cooler climes. However, they are starting to return and have discovered the conveniently located log on the edge of the lake.
I have never seen an Egret sitting down like this before.