Mighty Mink

On By Mike and Christy3 Comments
Mighty_mink_1

While out at a local lake on our kayaks we were treated to a very unexpected sight…a mink hunting crawfish. This guy/gal was working the shoreline and caught at least two crawfish while we watched from out in the lake on our kayaks. We had no idea mink lived along the shores of this lake and have never seen one before. Another reminder that those little moments sure can make your day.

Let’s Chat

On By Mike and ChristyLeave a comment

There is a unique pleasure associated with spending a night camping next to the homes of a couple a male Yellow-breasted Chats during the spring courting season. Prolific singers in early morning and evening light but it was the all night singing during the breeding season that made for a memorable experience.

Males have a large repertoire of songs made up of whistles, cackles, mews, catcalls, caw notes, chuckles, rattles, squawks, gurgles, and pops, which they repeat and string together with great variety.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-breasted_Chat/sounds

That all night singing had us thinking it was dawn yet it was only 1 a.m. and wondering wonder….is this a dream?

The Yellow Breasted Chat is classified as a warbler but a warbler head and tails above other warblers in size as well as having a somewhat distinct shape A large head and neck as well as a long tail really make the Chat a very unique looking bird.

Yes, an evening spent in chat is an evening well spent.

In the Cottonwood tree

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

An male Common Grackle looking shiny and sleek spent some time foraging around in this cottonwood tree as afternoon shifted to evening. It’s always a treat when just the right light revels the amazing coloration in their feathers. What appeared a basically black bird is reveled to have a green-purple head and iridescent purple-bronze body. And who can forget that eye.