Wild Bird Wednesday - January 27, 2021

 

Hello & Happy Wednesday.

It's been quite sometime since I've joined Stewart (Paying Ready Attention) for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY  

 

So today I'm going to join in because I finally have something to share.

 

About 2 1/2 weeks ago my granddaughter, Coleen and I took a little drive up to Bennington Lake and then on to Rooks Park.  While we were at the park we kept hearing an owl hooting so we decided to try and find it.  I wandered off in one direction and she in another.  Suddenly my cell phone rang and when I answered it it was her saying,  "Grandma get over here quick, there are 2 of them!"  - I hurried around the area and located here where she then pointed to a tree and low and behold this was sitting there so nice & calm.

 

 It never flew off and stayed there the entire time we were there.  Coleen then told me that she heard a second owl hooting at this one and we could still hear it every so often.  So we decided to keep looking to see if we could find it.  

 

She finally spotted it way up high in a fir tree several yards across from where this one was.  I had a hard time finding it and kept telling her she was imagining that she saw it in the tree.  So finally she asked for my camera and she snapped a few shots.  Most of them you could hardly tell what they were through all the branches but she did get one that you can actually see that there was indeed another owl in that tree.

 

 It was much larger then the one I took the pictures of.  I'm amazed at how well they were camouflaged in those trees and was thrilled that we were able to find them and get some pictures of them to share.

 

We had a great time there hunting for those owls. I'm not sure what type of an owl this is so you "birders" out there can let me know.

Wild Bird Wednesday - The Eagle has landed.

Joining in with Stewart (Paying Ready Attention) today for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

On the morning of December 15, 2017 a little before 9:00 am I got a call from my niece, Shelby that there was a Bald Eagle sitting on a telephone pole right by her house. - She often calls me when birds like the Pelicans I've posted about before show up in her neck of the woods.  I like that about her!

Anyway I hopped right in the car, still in my PJ'S and uncombed hair and drove up to her place hoping that the Eagle would still be there.  It's a good 5-10 minute drive from my house to hers. 

When I arrived it was still sitting on top of the pole.  I took several shots of it.  The day was very dreary and overcast so the quality isn't the greatest but I'm still thrilled with what I did capture.

This was the best shot without to much of the power lines in the way.  This bird sat there like this for the longest time.

While waiting around for it to move a bit I snapped a quick picture of the geese in the creek bed.

Suddenly I noticed that the Eagle was getting ready to take off from the pole and I manged this shot right as it lifted off.

Quickly trying to aim and focus I captured this "in-flight" shot which has been cropped to show off the bird better.

I'm happy with these photos and so glad that she called to tell me about the Eagle being there.  - I hope you enjoy them as well.

Have a great day.

Wild Bird Wednesday

Welcome!

Today I'm joining Stewart, (Paying Ready Attention) for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY

Click to Enlarge Photos.

 I so seldom get to post for this meme but this past week I had a chance to view several different wild birds and get halfway decent photos of them.

First up:  Quail

 These birds just make me laugh...they are comical in the way they run as you can see in this shot.

There were bunches of these quail eating at Rooks Park and I actually got close enough to get a few photos before they all took off into the underbrush. - These birds are quick! - We think these Quail are California Quail.  They were much larger then the smaller quail we often see in this area.

Next we have: Canadian Geese

This photo isn't a super sharp shot of the geese but I liked it and as you look down Mill Creek you can see just how many geese were out and about.

Next it's my (Mystery) bird from the previous post.  Although many have stated they believe the bird to be an Osprey. - I had my camera set on BW when I happened to spot this large bird flying and didn't think to change the setting so the shot is in Black and White.

Finally as we were leaving the park we met a man going into the park with a camera.  I spoke to him about spotting this bird and he told me that there was a White Egret in the area and handed me his business card. 

We drove to the area he mentioned he had just photograghed the Egret at but didn't see it.  So instead we decided to drive a little further up the road to Bennington Lake and there we spotted the Egret!

This was as close as I could get but I think it turned out okay.

Here is a link to Mr. Davis photos of the Egret. - Thanks for letting me know about the Egret.

Hope you have enjoyed my Wild Birds.

Wildbird & Wordless Wednesday

WILDBIRD WEDNESDAY & WORDLESS WEDNESDAY 

 

 

 

 

Wild Bird Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.

Joining today for Wordless Wednesday with the photo below.  Although I have given it a title.


Click to enlarge:

                                          Unidentified Flying Objects

Also joining Stewart (Paying Ready Attention) for Wild Bird Wednesday.

While out at Rooks Park last week we spotted the above birds, I have no idea what they are (can someone identify them please) but thought they looked really cool in that formation.  The bottom bird must have got it's signals wrong as it seems to be flying in a different formation.

We walked along another paved trail and in the underbrush we heard a noise and I stopped and spied this little guy:

I believe this is a Downey Woodpecker.  I was thrilled to get these shot of it and they all turned out pretty clear and decent.

A view of the back of it's head.

He'd moved to another branch and this was the last shot I got before he flew off. 

It sure was fun to see him. 

Wild Bird Wednesday - Capturing a 1st.

Today I am super excited in joining Stewart (Paying Ready Attention) for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Last Wednesday after Coleen got out of school we went up to Rooks Park and I walked up to Mill Creek to take some pictures.  As I was walking towards the creek I spotted something white flying in the air but I couldn't see what it was nor where it went.  I happened to spot a guy with a camera looking towards where I was but still could see what he was looking at.  He was on the other side of the bank and I watched him and his dog walk on up the trail.  Then I turned and headed in his direction and it was then I spotted this:

This was still pretty far off so I hurried on up the trail and told my daughter to head down and get Coleen so she could see the bird too.

As I got closer and closer I begin to take more & more pictures.

I like the way the geese here are standing.

Neat to get the geese, some ducks and the Egret in the same shot.

  I think this may be one of my favorite shots I got of the Egret.

 

 

Now it's turned the other direction.

Seems to be checking the ducks out.

Coleen loves this shot.  She says it looks like they are "kissing."

I could have watched this bird all day.  At first I thought it was a (Snowy Egret) but upon looking it up I discovered this is referred to as a Great Egret or a Common Egret.  To me there was nothing "common" about it and I was thrilled beyond belief to actually see it and photograph it.

I hope you've enjoyed my photos of this 1st for me.

Wild Bird Wednesday - Let's do the Turkey Trot

Joining in today with Stewart (Paying Ready Attention) for WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.


My mom, Coleen and I took a drive last Saturday afternoon and low and behold some Wild Turkeys ran right out in front of us.  I quickly pulled over and snapped a few pictures of them and then we were on our way.

Click to enlarge

 



There were just six turkeys in this group.  Further up the road we spotted some more wild turkeys.

How many do you see here?  It was hard to get them all in one shot because they started moving into the brush very quickly.  We estimated there were about 15-20 turkeys altogether, though you probably can't see that many in this shot.

Heading for cover.

Blending into their surroundings.

Heading up the mountain side.

Good-bye turkey's it was fun seeing you.

So let's do a little dance now in your honor.

Have a great day.