Why they're called Cattle Egrets

Part of the Viera wetlands is surrounded by pasture with roaming cows. I never really noticed them before but did on my last visit. This first one is what caught my attention. I literally just raised the camera and shot as this ballet was occurring. I wished I didn't cut the cow's head off though.  



Notice in this one how the cow is sticking his tongue out at me! :shock:


As the cows graze, apparently they cause the bugs to jump. The cattle egrets follow snatching up the bugs. They do the same thing when the grass/field is being cut by a mower.

 

Sorry for taking so long to reply. Thought I had a few times already. Oh well, thanks eveyone for the nice words!

These cattle egret are so common around here that you almost take them for granted. I, however, gained new respect for them after having seen them in breeding plumage at the Rookery. They're still kinda goofy the way they act in the fields, bobbin their heads and all but where there's a cow, there's an egret!