Who Me?

On February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

A little eye to eye with a Black Capped Chickadee on a chilly and snowy afternoon.

Towsend’s Solitaire

On February 27, 2018February 27, 2018 By Mike and Christy20 Comments

We watched as this Townsend’s Solitaire spent the better part of their day defending and consuming berries on a small patch of juniper trees.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “During the winter, the male and female are both strongly territorial, defending patches of juniper trees against other solitaires and other birds. They feed largely or even exclusively on the juniper’s ripe, fleshy berries for the entire nonbreeding season.”

That sure appeared to be the case this day as this bird sat watch and every once in awhile darted into the tree and grabbed a berry.

One study suggested a single Solitaire would need to eat between 42,000 and 84,000 juniper berries to survive the winter. I don’t think this small patch contained enough for this bird and sharing would be out of the question.

After a quick bite they were back perched and on the lookout. It has been observed that violent fights may break out in defense of the winter territory, because owners of large, berry-rich territories survive the winter at higher rates than solitaires on small territories with few berries. This day all was calm and the owner of this territory had it all to themselves.

To find out more about these inconspicuous but fascinating birds:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Solitaire/overview

http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/townsends-solitaire

https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/towsol/overview

Hi Boys

On February 25, 2018February 10, 2018 By Mike and Christy32 Comments

As the old saying goes…it takes two to tango. Last week it was the male Hooded Mergansers performing on the pond for a somewhat non receptive female.This week the female appears at least a wee bit interested in the growing selection of males as they swim around the pond head bobbing to get her attention.

On the bank

On February 16, 2018February 17, 2018 By Mike and Christy8 Comments

The Male Mallards are really looking sharp these days. Fully dressed in mating colors this male Mallard was just chilling on the river bank watching the ladies swim by.

At Forests Edge

On February 14, 2018February 4, 2018 By Mike and Christy7 Comments

While peering into the forest behind we were greeted at the forests edge by this Female Ruffed Grouse.

We took a photo or two before the slipped back in to the forest behind.

Yellowstone National Park, fall 2017.

White Crowned Sparrow

On February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Looking just a bit more Grey and having an more orange bill than the White Crowned Sparrows I typically see. This guy enjoys his perch in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

Black on Blue

On February 11, 2018February 3, 2018 By Mike and Christy68 Comments

On a crisp and sunny February morning we spent some time watching a group of Crows playing around on an iced over lake. We were unable to tell what they were doing even after half an hour of observation. Could it have been looking for food, either embedded into the ice, or under it? Or were they just admiring their handsome reflections on the ice? Or who knows what. Anyway, it was fun to observe them walking ever so gingerly to avoid slipping around and peering into the ice for a reason we were unable to determine.

Killdeer

On February 9, 2018February 9, 2018 By Mike and Christy6 Comments

One of my favorite birds to watch and interact with. Feigning injury when you get to close to the nest. This day we just sat and watched a Killdeer forage for food along the bank of a pond.