A young male Downey Headed Woodpecker learning the ropes on a local tree.
Tag: spring
Yellow
Mostly yellow and just a touch of green on a cloudy spring afternoon.
Yellow bells ringing and although short and sometimes hidden in the grass they make a statement that is always bold.
Arrow-leaf Balsamroot is just now riding into town and when in full abundance paints the fields with that sunny shade of yellow.
Now on the wane yet still holding on the Biscuit root is one of those flowers inside a flower inside a flower. Fascinating to look at from macro to micro and back again.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Early Risers
Spring has come late this year. With a late April round of snow and subfreezing temperatures to a wetter and colder than typical May. By Memorial Day the Glacier Lillies and Shooting Stars have typically given way to other spring wildflowers but not this year. They are still abundant and fresh.
While the rest of springs basket is starting to burst forth into bloom I am always thankful for these two early risers that signal spring is indeed here and especially this year.
Snowy Monday
Waiting patiently, both us, and this Snowy Egret. While the Egret is waiting for a meal we are awaiting the true arrival of spring. An unseasonable cold snap we are having brings to mind the T-Bone Walker classic “Stormy Monday” just substituting snowy for stormy on this particular day. Each spring is different and this one is no exception.
Happy Monday and hope your week is off to a great start.
Snowy Egret photographed just a few weeks ago. Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Songs of spring
Ahhh…the return of the Yellow Headed Blackbirds and their wonderful squeaky-raucous chorus making a walk around the local wetlands a wonderful springtime ritual.
“With a golden head, a white patch on black wings, and a call that sounds like a rusty farm gate opening, the Yellow-headed Blackbird demands your attention.”
That description from the Cornell Lab of Orinthology pretty much sums up these wonderful birds. Every spring we sit, listen and love to photograph the males belting out their tunes. If you have never heard these guys sing it is a sound you will not soon forget.
Hello sunshine
A male Ring-necked Pheasant looking into the warming ray of the morning sun. We have one of these guys (but not this one) hanging around the neighborhood and crowing away the last few mornings in hopes of attracting a few ladies. Both seeing and hearing him has been a nice way for us to start the day.
Hello sunshine.
Roosting
Early one morning we spotted these White Faced Ibis resting on a local lake. Not a common sight around here and within a half hours after taking this photo they flew off. I have yet to see them on this lake again.
For the next couple of weeks we will be posting some of our favorite posts from the past as we take a small respite from the digital world.
