We watched for a awhile as a Gartered Trogon perched on a branch intently watching the forest floor below. After a few minutes the bird flew down to forest floor and returned to their perch with prize in beak. It took them a minute or so to correctly position their catch but once they did it was….
…down the hatch it goes.
Quite a mouthful if I can say so myself.
While the nuthatches and chickadees visit the spruce trees in droves each winter we typically see only one or maybe two Brown Creepers busy foraging in the trees. We suspect they are after the seed that the nuthatches have just hidden.
Easy pickings or are they still searching for insects?
A Cygnet Trumpeter Swan going about their daily routine on an overcast late fall afternoon. The weather this day sure seemed to be saying it was time to move along further south soon. Yet this Cygnet seemed content and we watched as they went on..
drinking and feeding…
…and preening supported by dinosaur legs.
Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.
A solitary Little Blue Heron foraging on an overcast day. While the Juveniles are white this adult displays a beautiful purple-blue plumage distinct to this species. With their dark plumage these birds are a bit more difficult to notice foraging around the waters edge.
Sitting quietly and giving the impression of a massive hummingbird a Rufous-tailed Jacamar perches along the forest edge in search of an afternoon meal. Feeding mainly in flying insects the Jacamar will sally out from their perch like a fly-catcher and catch insects on the wing.
A quick visit with a Northern Flicker. This fine looking bird flew into a tree filled with a mixed flock of small songbirds foraging away on a cold November morning and we are glad she did.
She made a quick check to see what all the commotion was about checking to see if there was food of her liking on and old fir tree.
But alas, after a quick check of both limbs and trunk she decided to move on. A nice splash of color on a quiet fall day.
While out on a hike we followed the sound of a woodpecker pecking in the forest fully expecting to find a Downy Head or Hairy. When we finally spotted the source of the pecking we were thrilled to find an American Three Toed Wooedepcker: Picoides dorsalis working away looking for a meal. Why this species evolved to have only three toes instead of the typical four seems to be a matter for debate however the Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggest that three toes may help deliver stronger blows with the beak while foraging.
Prowling a meadow for the morning meal and it sure looks like something is on this Coyotes radar screen.
Target in sight and onto the pounce
Looks like this attempt was a failure but it does not stop a coyote from trying. A lesson learned.
Perhaps the fattest little chipmunk we have ever seen feasts on some late season flowers.
While our gatherings may be smaller this year they will not be any less festive and given what we have experienced this year we do have much to be thankful for.
Cheers and wishing you a wonderful day.
On a recent walk we were lucky enough to be able spend a fair amount of time observing and watching a very handsome Mule Deer Buck escorting his harem through the forest.
While we hung out and watched the whole group of deer pass through the male stood watch curious yet calm and quiet.
Before the group moved away and into the deeper reaches of the forest the male put his nose to the sky to make sure all were present and accounted for.
A nice surprise and the highlight of the stroll.
nature has no boss 
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