Three Bird Day

Around Town today, but blissfully outside and feeling so much better for it!

An almost-patient Great Blue Heron

I went to look for the Long-tailed Duck at North Shields Ponds today. A fabulous-looking duck. Someday I hope to see an adult male in Summer plumage :) There was more than a little adventure involved in today's search, but I did get to see the bird: (That's him on the left...)

Flying off with some Goldeneyes half a second after I arrive

Not looking too excited about my visit

Safely far away.

My first Winter Wren, at the Environmental Learning Center:

Skullllkeee!!!

And an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Grandview Cemetery:

Really beautiful...another bird I'd like to see in adult plumage.

Also around town today:

American Robin

Black-billed Magpie

Black-capped Chickadee

Brown Creeper

Canada Goose

Dark-eyed Junco

Eurasian-collared Dove

European Starling

Hairy Woodecker

Mallard

Northern Flicker

Red-winged Blackbird

On the Way Home

I stopped at Running Deer this evening. It was so quiet, again... I think I'm beginning to realize the quiet makes hearing certain things easier (the really quiet sounds.) Tonight I enjoyed this kind of listening practice.

My first surprise of the evening (I didn't have high expectations) 

was the little chirp of a pair of fledglings.

I got pretty excited as I realized that they were almost surely

Marsh Wren fledglings. Look at that ridiculous hairdo!

I know the photos don't do them justice, but they were a little shy.

Another great sound: the hilarious squeak the frogs make as they

jump in the water at my approach.

Frog Head at Sunset. :)

Very few birds tonight at Running Deer. I was chased away from 

a pair of Wilson's Warblers by mosquitoes. 

This Black-crowned Night Heron seemed more concerned

with the prospect of fishing than my presence.

Surprise #2: Look at him, isn't he gorgeous? I have no idea on id, but 

I sat and watched him nibble on his leaf for quite some time.

ID Update: Dave Leatherman, entomologist extraordinaire has confirmed

he is a White-lined Sphinx, what most people call a

Hummingbird Moth. Cooler than cool news really, since 

that is one of our very favorite garden visitors at home!

Running Deer Test Run

Whatever my weekend plans were going to be, they took a nose-dive Friday afternoon when I discovered my camera had been stored in a wet bag all week. (Exactly when Camelbak will manufacture a bladder that doesn't prove faulty I don't know.)

After talking with the B & H rep this morning I concluded that it's going to be alright. Even if something happens down the road that five year extended warranty will be there to keep me and my yogurt-exploding persona safe.

And so, a test drive at Running Deer this evening. A little too dark too soon [read not miserably HOT,] but I think I can tell that everything is functioning as it should be:

Red-winged Blackbird silhouette

I figured I'd shoot whatever I saw, even if that meant grasshoppers.

There were a lot of dragonflies. It was remarkably quiet; I

don't ever remember such a quiet night at Running Deer.

Too dark for these guys, but you get the idea...

Blurry or not, I love seeing the mink :)

Maybe I'm just a little tired, but for the moment I'm unclear. Only

glimpsed momentarily...

Reminds me of some immature yellow-breasted chats

I saw last week, though it's lacking the distinctive

eye ring...

More herons than anything else at Running Deer tonight. I almost got a hilarious shot 

of a Great Blue Beak underneath me as it somehow didn't notice me standing above it 

at the dam. Two seconds too late...

My First American Bittern

Well actually my second....

Here's my first; I stopped in shock - from the distance I was sure it was a bittern. Even bothered to pull out the scope!

Figured I'd come back and check on him after 

another loop along the road.... but then I forgot all about that bittern:

and found this one. Too close to the car!

A little further away with some grass and fence in the way...

Looking intently at something...

American Bittern with fish.

Looking at me funny.

Looking at me seriously.

Taking off; some goofball (yeah I mean me) 

thought they'd try to open the car door.

And here, behind fence, a little bittern walking:

A few more photos from today's visit to Lower Latham:

Sunday Afternoon at Running Deer

It felt like Spring today! The usual suspects, plus a few firsts at Running Deer:

Brief Glimpse of a Western Tanager

Bunches of Yellow-rumped Warblers and 

almost as many Yellow Warblers

My first Lark Sparrow, cooperative and flashy!

First the Dad(s)....

and then Mom Wood Duck! really the most wonderful thing 

ever...at least for now....

ending with Black-crowned Night Herons 

flying overhead and landing in trees.

Really Feeling like Spring

A WBU Walk with Connie today started off wonderfully with an Osprey flying over the parking lot.

Quiet Great Horned Owl observes the group...

An incredible amount of Turkey Vultures...flying overhead...

hanging out in trees (next to an immature Bald Eagle!)

Song Sparrow puts on a show...

Downey Woodpeckers acting Funny...

 and Goose on nest.

 

This afternoon, a quick stop at Running Deer 

provided a FOS Snowy Egret!