With the grass greening up and water in the pond the frogs better keep their eyes open for this little hunter. A Snowy Egret works the ponds on a sunny spring morning.
Tag: zen
Never a dull moment
It is never a dull moment when the White Faced Ibis are around. So full of color you just look and be in wonder. A full palette all in one bird. Truly amazing.
Little Grebe
A little Pie Billed Grebe affectionately described by All About Birds as “Part Bird-Part Submarine” for their ability to quickly dive like a submarine when threatened. Luckily this one did not feel threatened and we were able to observe them swimming in this small river hunting for their morning meal.
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.
Blue Grey Gnatcatcher
What an amazing looking little bird to spend some time watching. He hopped around from branch to branch and getting a photo or two seemed in the end pure luck.
All about birds had this to say “A tiny, long-tailed bird of broadleaf forests and scrublands, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher makes itself known by its soft but insistent calls and its constant motion” and it sure fit this guys behavior to a tee.
To read ore about this bird visit https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/lifehistory
Bullocks
The Oriole that is. Bight orange and beautiful the Bullocks Oriole. Who can resist that goatee and the Zoroesque mask. We typically see hundreds of Oriole nest in the winter and early spring but only catch a rare glimpse of the maker. This year we were lucky and got several nice opportunities.
Clearly Incompatible
An Adult Black Crowned Night Heron was quietly minding their own business standing silently and hunting in that patient Nigh Heron way. Then along came the Ibises probing and prodding right in front of the heron.
These two foraging styles were clearly incompatible and there heron quickly and elegantly took flight to find a quitter corner of the pond.
Leaving the Ibises to have this spot for their own.
Dependable
It’s nice to have something you can depend on and Calliope Hummingbirds fit the definition of dependable spot on. Last year we saw our first Calliope on May 11th and this year a few appeared exactly to our feeder on May 11th. How they did that while completing an over 5,000 mile migration from the forests in Mexico where they winter beats me. These small guys are amazing little birds and no bigger than a ping-pong ball.
Content
A Female Red Winged Blackbird soaking up the morning sunlight while fresh spring leaves leaves wiggle their way out of the newly formed buds.
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.
nature has no boss 
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