A Black Necked Stilt enjoying some quiet time alone in a temporary pond created by spring rains. Soon the pond will be gone and the Stilt will have moved on.
Tag: nature photography
One rainy afternoon
It was an unusually dark Friday afternoon just a week or two ago, light rain falling, when this male Yellow-rumped Warbler descended from their usual stomping grounds up in the tops of the conifers to forage on insects in the cattails along the edge of the pond.
Taking their time they perused the area and picked out the most buggy of the areas to work over.
Like a true warbler they rarely held still but we were lucky enough to get a nice long look of this beautiful bird before they took off to the tree tops above.
Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.
On a wire
The world seems awash in fences many made of barbed wire. Some still providing a useful purpose but many not and with a storied history that provides an interesting read. An easy place for a bird photograph but a hazard for wildlife as well. A love hate relationship indeed.
Blackbird singing….
Two versions of a musical interlude to brighten the start to your day.
The original by the Beatles or this version by one of our favorite musicians Brad Meldahu.
Both inspired by these beautiful male Brewers Blackbirds taking a moment to just sit and sing.
Eared Grebes
A small group of Eared Grebes patrolling the waters on a nearby reservoir as they migrate north towards their breeding grounds. I guess it’s those cinnamon red-hot eyes that give them such an intense look as well as their alert posture but they sure look like a tough lot to me.
According to the All About Birds website eared Grebes spend 9-10 months of the year flightless. This is the longest period of flightlessness of any bird species capable of flight. Beautiful Birds and always a pleasure to observe.
Broad Tailed Hummingbird
Given my poor skills at identifying Hummingbirds, especially the females, please correct me if I am wrong again this time.
While we were out hiking last weekend this Broad tailed Hummingbird landed on a branch right in front of us on a very windy afternoon. I can’t imagine being a bird that weighs mere ounces buzzing about on a day with the wind as strong as that day but she was sure putting in a great effort. After a short rest she was off with that familiar hummingbird buzz and buzzed away on a breezy day.
The Charmer
Some guys just know that they have the stuff to get the ladies and this is one of those guys…The Charmer. There were numerous Red Winged Blackbirds on the pond this day all strutting there stuff but to my untrained eye, heck i’m a human not a female Red Winged Blackbird, this guy just stood out.
He sang his song like no others birds on the pond and with a style non could match.
When he finished singing he put his brilliant red wings on display which none of the other males were doing. Most just sang and sang.
Yes…this guy knows he is The Charmer.
Get a grip
A male Yellow-headed Blackbird getting a grip on a cattail swaying in the wind. Just look at those feet…amazing
Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.
Hidden gems
On a recent walk through sagebrush scrub and grassland we were treated to numerous hidden gems along the way. Lupines flowering amongst the grasses still mainly brown after a winters sleep.
Shooting stars in clusters were dispersed along the way. Never a thick carpet, just a sprinkling, every now and then.
Bluebells dangled in little clumps…
and Penstemon light the way.
Hidden gems indeed.
Subtle
Just a splash of yellow and quick glance back as a Savanah Sparrow sits quietly along a barbed wire fence was enough to make our day.
nature has no boss 
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