April, 2025.
Kalaheo, Hawaii.

The cattle egret is known for its symbiotic relationship with grazing animals, such as cattle, camels, and even rhinos. Originally native to Asia, Africa, and Europe, it has expanded its range globally, including North America, where it first appeared in 1953.

These white herons are often seen in fields rather than streams, foraging for insects disturbed by the movement of large animals. During the breeding season, they develop golden plumes on their heads, chests, and backs, adding color to their otherwise white feathers. They nest in colonies, often near water, and build nests of sticks in trees or shrubs. I sourced this information from Wikipedia here.

About the photo: We were spending a few weeks in Kalaheo, on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii. Lynn called me over to the window and pointed to a cattle egret that was chillin’ on the trellis near the second-floor deck. I took one photo through the glass before stepping out on the deck, fearful that the bird would fly because I had opened the door. I was lucky that the bird continued enjoying the day on the trellis.

I captured the image with my Samsung S23U, using the 3X lens to bring the bird closer to the camera. After transferring the photo to my laptop, I processed it in Luminar Neo. I cropped it almost square and then used Accent AI to balance the background lighting with the foreground. Click on the photo to view it on my Flickr site in 2K HD.

I invite fellow bloggers to join in by creating their own Cellpic Sunday posts. There’s no set theme—the only rule is that your photo must be captured with a cell phone, iPad, or other mobile device. The second rule is simple: link your challenge response to this post or drop a comment here with your link so others can find it. And remember, despite the name, there’s no penalty for sharing on a day other than Sunday.

John Steiner