Archive for April, 2010

Dinnertime for the Snowy egret.

The Snowy egret wades through the shallows using his yellow feet to flush prey into view. I came across this Snowy egret and snapped a picture just a fraction of a second late. I had tried to get him catching the fish that he just swallowed, but he was too quick for me.

They have beautiful plumage, especially in the breeding season. They were nearly wiped out in the 1800′s when there was a big market for their lacy feathers. I find it interesting that a breeding pair, apparently, cannot recognize each other away from the nest.  So the mate when returning to the nest must perform an elaborate ritual dance in order to be recognized.

Ring-necked pheasant sneaking out of the tall grass

Right in front of me I see the bright flash of yellow of some kind of bird as it disappears behind the branches of a tree. It appeared larger than a goldfinch; so what could it be? I see it again as it moves between trees. I grab my camera and decide to follow it. Stumbling through the underbrush, I can’t get it in the viewfinder. This is rapidly becoming tiring, so I sit down, pull out my thermos, and pour a cup of coffee.

As I sit there I notice something stirring in the tall grass. I am completely taken by surprise as a ring-necked pheasant suddenly appears. With my camera at the ready I take a quick picture, and then just as suddenly he’s gone. Oh well, no yellow bird, but a beautiful cock pheasant!

Red-wing in charge!

The Cooper’s hawk is a real terror for smaller birds.  While hunting they like to fly fast and low through wooded areas.  Around here they will stake out a walnut orchard for their own personal hunting grounds.  I’ve seen their terrible proficiency in capturing small birds.  With this in mind I was surprised to see an occasion where the tables were turned.  Apparently this one Cooper’s hawk had ventured into a breeding area of Red-winged blackbirds.  There was this Cooper’s hawk trying to make it to the security of a tree with a Red-winged blackbird firmly attached to it’s back.  I lost sight of them, so I don’t know how the story turned out;  but it seemed like the Red-winged blackbird was squarely in control of the situation.