Tuesday 13 March 2018

Algarve and the Cattle Egret.

Throughout Portugal there is a large gypsy community, but most can be seen in the Algarve. They have lived in Portugal since the second half of the 15th century. They rely on their horses for many aspects of their lives. I took the next photo through our windscreen window, as we were returning home one day. There are eight horses in the photo, and tethered gypsy horses can be seen on waste land all over the south of Portugal. At least the poor tethered horse, (which is the way gypsies leave their horses to graze,) had the company of the little Cattle Egret.



 


 


 


 


 


 


 
WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY
SATURDAY'S CRITTERS
I'D-RATHER-B-BIRDIN

40 comments:

Teresa said...

Bonito reportaje. Besitos.

Mike Attwood said...

It happens in England too Sonjia only the horses don't have the company of the cattle egret. Horses in this country are usually abandoned because they are sick or too old. Fortuneately we have many trusts that take care of them. Take care, Mike.

Russell Jenkins said...

They look like great pals. Some lovely picrures and you've really caught the atmosphere.

Shiju Sugunan said...

Glad the poor tethered horses have cattle egrets as friends. In India, their front legs are hobbled.

La Biosfera de Lola said...

Buenos días querida amiga. Espectaculares tus fotos. Un beso grande.

Len said...

I have not seen any gypsies on the Algarve for some time so I think they must be declining in numbers. Lovely pics of the Egret and the donkey did not look badly cared for.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I was unaware of the presence of gypsies in Portugal, although I know that they have generally been persecuted throughout Europe, and a few years ago Canada enabled many of them to emigrate here from Central Europe. Are they generally well regarded in Portugal or is discrimination a problem there?

Jeevan said...

Lovely capture on the gypsy horses and cattle egret! I just like there way of living, traveling most part of the lives

MadSnapper said...

no matter what the subject matter is, your photos are always fantastic. the detail and sharpness make your photos appear real enough to touch... love the horse behind the wagon and sorry for the one tethered. i do so hate any animal that has to be tied down

Lea said...

Love the photos of the horse and egret together!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Those egrets are brave little gals.

hmuxo said...

Beautiful photos as always!!! Have a wonderful day!!!!!

Len said...

Stupid of me to refer to the horse as a "donkey". I DO know the difference! Do you know if gypsy numbers are declining in Portugal? Are gypsies being encouraged to move to favellas? Near our home, two years ago, planning permission was declined for a "Travellers' site". I think that there is a lot of "anti gypsy" feeling in this part of the world, because people who live near Travellers' sites" allege that the cost of Home Insurance rises significantly due to the increase in the number of burglaries. A gypsy's life is not as romantic as it appears from many accounts.

Ranten said...

Lovely story about the gypsis and the bird!

A Colorful World said...

Such a fascinating look at the gypsies of Portugal and their beautiful horses! Loved the egret shots also. Great post.

sami niilola said...

A brave bird. Fantastic photos. Have a nice evening.

matti niilola said...

They're definitely friends. Amazing photos. Greetings.

Ida said...

Beautiful horse and such wonderful shots of the Egret.

Lowcarb team member said...

Some lovely photographs here, my favourite is your first one ...

All the best Jan

Phil Slade said...

Hello Sonjia. I promise to press "Publish" as I go. It's easy to forget. I do it regularly!

Cattle Egrets make for super pictures, especially when the photographer is able to show the true size of them as you did next to that horse.

I wonder if those gipsies retain their nomadic lifestyle. Over here it does seem that gradually some of the the younger ones marry integrate into non-gipsy families and forsake some of their traditions.

Giga said...

A bird looks wonderfully in the company of a horse, but it also presents itself beautifully. Regards.

BumbleVee said...

how sweet ... finding a horse for a friend .....

Christine said...

Your first photo is super as it captures the gypsy lifestyle in Portugal so well!
Wonderful to see the egret befriend the tethered horse!

This N That said...

Nice Egret shots..I hope the horse gets moved often so he always has room to graze..That's sad..

Kaya said...

I saw White Egret only once and it was so far away. You took amazing photographs of this beautiful bird.
And I didn't realize how small this bird is. Excellent photographs!!!

Latane Barton said...

Those are great shots of the egret. And, your info on the gypsies was very interesting.

hagen vår said...

Love your pictures and your story.

Stuart Price said...

They'll be in their breeding plumage soon..........

Bob Bushell said...

Fantastic Cattle Egret images. Love him/her.

NatureFootstep said...

beautiful shots of the horse and egret :)

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love your horses photos and the pretty egrets. Wonderful post.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Thanks also for the comment and visit. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Victoria said...

Beautiful photos, the horse and bird look like they are good friends.

Linda said...

Great shots! What a sweet bird!

Betty J. Crow said...

The horse is a beauty. But then I have a soft spot in my heart for all of them. Nice shots of the egret, too.

Tom said...

...on Maui Egrets are everywhere, they have become rather invasive. Enjoy your week.

carol l mckenna said...

Wonderful photography and love the cattle egret juxtaposed beside the beautiful horse ~ what a find!

Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Beautiful, cheerful and bright beauties in this post~

wolfe said...

Hello
You have beautiful pictures on your blog!
Have a nice day!

Debbie said...

how little the cattle egret looks in comparison to the beautiful horse. they appear to be friends!!! i would love a better look at the carriage!!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Your information about the Gypsys in Portugal is very interesting! I had no idea that there would be so many nor that they would still live their old-style life. In the horse pasture near our home here in Florida (where I go often to take pictures of the Eagle nest tree) there are always cattle egrets around the horses ... I said they should be called horse egrets!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...