A female yellow rumped warbler enjoying the beginnings of this years deciduous forest. Once these trees completely leaf out getting photos of birds in the forest is another story altogether but for now I will enjoy the view while it lasts.
Pika
A little Pika peeking out from the last of winters snow surveying his domain.
The numbers of Pika are decreasing across the Western United States and climate change, habitat loss and other factors are likely involved. Hearing their chirps while hiking in the mountains is a sound I enjoy and I hope it does not just become a memory.
https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/97/6/1495/2628942
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180501085303.htm
Springing
With the last of the snow melted life is springing up in all shapes and sizes. Flowers, tress, grasses and water rushing to fill the streams. In addition we sighted the first Chipmunk of the year a few days ago taking a break and enjoying their lunch as the sun warms the rocks.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Across the forest floor
Finding their way through a massive landscape without a map a forest beetle enjoys the ride across the forest floor.
Small and smaller
Tiny white wildflowers gracing the forest floor measuring no more than a quarter inch in diameter become a great big world to this tiny mantis that I did not even notice in the photograph until I downloaded the photos. just another reminder that the abundance of life one our wonderful planet is small and sometimes even smaller than we see.
Eared Grebe
An Eared Grebe in early season plumage gets ready to move across the pond. Maybe it’s those red eyes but I would not want to find myself alone in a dark alley with a flock of these birds.
Cliff Swallow
A small Cliff Swallow looking just like the master predator she is takes a break from their tireless foraging on a small frond of grass.
Seeing a bird land easily on this small tuft of grass provided a reminder of just how small and light a cliff swallow must be. About an ounce.
