Exploring

I have vivid memories of “exploring” new territories as a child.  Each time we moved or visited some place new presented an opportunity to go exploring.  I love to go exploring.  Ever since I started birding I’ve found I can explore the same places over and over again, every time finding something new.  This time my discovery is these Horned Grebes who were hanging out with the Buffleheads of whom I was trying to get a decent photo.  These two photos below I shot about an hour later.  I'm amazed at how much color the black part of the head contains.

 

An Interest in Cows

My sister one time asked me, as we were traveling through Cameroon, why I was so interested in cows.  I believe the question came up because I kept making us stop so that I could photograph the herds of cattle we saw.  Or maybe I was just bemoaning the fact that we didn’t stop for cattle photos because I can’t remember seeing any the last time I went through the photo album.  At any rate, I told her that they presented a different kind of texture in the landscape.  (They also had cool long horns.)  

The truth is I take pictures of just about everything.  Trees, tree bark, fungus on trees, fungus other places, cactus, buildings, people, and birds to name a few of my recent faves.  Birds are particularly fun to photograph and offer awesome textural variety to the landscape.  By now the pintails feel common to me but I still love their sleek design and stunning beauty.  I also love the fact that they stay relatively still and close enough for my 300mm lens.  

A Great Day

A great day at Forsythe NWR.  I believe this is an immature Cooper's Hawk but I'll have to check with some experts to confirm.  I have so many more photos to share.  It's taking me a while to get through them all. 

Making Choices...Or Not

I love the colors and textures of fall.

Always something amazing to see.

Brown Creeper

There's bound to be a duck or two in there somewhere.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I really could not decide what to post today.  I think I've spent more than an hour in an indecision loop.  Finally I decided not to choose and to post them all.  These are some of my favorite images from the past month.  Most are from Heinz NWR.  The second to last image is from Fosythe NWR.  Every Saturday for the past month or so I've joined the morning bird walk at Heinz NWR.  I've learned so much from all the knowledgeable people there.  Anything you could want to know about almost any type of life form; someone there will know.

Take Offs and Landings

Ruddy Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe  He flew like that the entire way!  Looks like his landing gear is down.

Black Duck

Hooded Merganser

Birds in Flight, Northern Harrier

 

Birds in Flight, Part 1

Red-winged Blackbirds

Northern Shovelers

Not sure...some kind of shore bird

Swans, Tundra I think

I took a gazillion photos of these Yellow-rumped Warblers and surprisingly few of them are any good.  I'll have to bump the shutter speed up to 500 or 600 next time.  These guys MOVE!!  Acrobatically too I might add.  It was a lot of fun to watch them flit back and forth, in and out, up and down and through these trees. 

Not A Duck

After much indecision I finally decided to drive out to Forsythe NWR yesterday.  It was a really beautiful, sunny day and while the sheer number of birds was lower than I've seen it in the past the variety of birds was impressive.  I saw at least 22 different species.  These American Coots were diving for dinner and showing off their greenish unwebbed feet.  In fact, I have just now discovered that American Coots are not ducks and belong instead to the rail family.  Learn something new everyday.

Colors and Textures of Fall

Osprey Chick in Action

This nest appears to have only one chick. Sunday we visited and got to see a lot of bird activity. Here's mom and chick hanging out in the nest with dad on the post nearby.


Something alarmed the couple and dad took flight to deter whatever threat caught their attention.


Meanwhile, back at the nest, the chick laid low while mom stood protective detail. You can identify her as female by her "necklace" (brown spots on her white chest).


Danger apparently past, dad returns to his post and the chick gets up to take care of business. Wrong way chick-o.


Much better, keeping the nest clean!


Couldn't resist the "ribbon" shot.


And a chick stretches his wings.

Osprey Chicks!

We finally got back to Forsythe NWR and at last there were osprey chicks!! Looks like they are about ready to fledge.

A family with two chicks.


Feeding time.


Three chicks in this nest!


And an only child. More about this guy tomorrow.