Missing the pond herons

 Tracking the pond herons this season, I was disappointed to have fallen short of capturing them in their prime breeding plumage.

These two birds arrived in early February.

More than three weeks later, there was noticeable moulting.

More than a month later, i.e. this would be almost two months since they have been here.

And this was the last time I saw them.  These Chinese Pond Herons did return to the taman but sadly not as regularly as during previous seasons, and I simply missed out on those occasions they were here, donning complete chestnut-maroon plumage.