24-NOV-2017
Still Fall Colors at Zumwalt Park
It's getting late in November and colors seem to be fading as leaves drop and the trees begin to turn to brown. But in this bright splash of sunlight this scene at Zumwalt Park looked really colorful. The trees still have plenty of color here. And it is a scene that demanded my attention. It seems that spots of sunshine against a dark cloudy background are eye candy, at least to me!
26-NOV-2017
The Exquisite Great Egret.
The Great Egret is certainly a beauty in the world of nature, found most often in North American wetlands. The egret is a bit smaller than a Great Blue Heron, but is a big bird with a beautiful wingspan. You will often see egrets standing still or wading through wetlands to hunt fish or other prey.
"Food":
"The Great Egret eats mainly small fish but also eats amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals and invertebrates such as crayfish, prawns, shrimp, polychaete worms, isopods, dragonflies and damselflies, whirligig beetles, giant water bugs, and grasshoppers. It hunts in belly-deep or shallower water in marine, brackish, and freshwater wetlands, alone or in groups. It wades as it searches for prey, or simply stands still to wait for prey to approach."
"*Though it mainly hunts while wading, the Great Egret occasionally swims to capture prey or hovers (somewhat laboriously) over the water and dips for fish.
The oldest known Great Egret was 22 years, 10 months old and was banded in Ohio."
27-NOV-2017
Pied-billed Grebe
I was able to walk at Delta Ponds this morning and, even though the water was really high there I did get to see some birds, including this Pied-billed Grebe in non-breeding rich brown plumage. They seem to favor ponds and reservoirs with dense aquatic vegetation, which is at present found in Delta Ponds. The bird was cleaning itself and then rose out of the water to flap its wings a bit. Since it was always moving, the wings and body are not tack sharp. But It was great to watch it, as I had never seen one take a bath before. :)
29-NOV-2017
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Saw this pretty little guy at Delta Ponds. I think they could now be gone for the season.
Found this interesting tidbit at "All About Birds" -
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/id# - "Yellow-rumped Warblers typically forage in the outer tree canopies at middle heights. They're active, and you'll often see them sally out to catch insects in midair, sometimes on long flights. In winter they spend lots of time eating berries from shrubs, and they often travel in large flocks."
30-NOV-2017
The Beautiful Fern Ridge Wildlife Area
The Fern Ridge Wildlife area is only a couple miles from home, so it is now among favorite places to go.
There is a lot beautiful scenery here, as well as wildlife. I enjoy taking photo walks there, lots to see.
01-DEC-2017
A Glorious Morning!
Once again, I was able to take a walk this morning in the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. It was quite foggy to start with and I figured that the sunrise would be a pretty one. I wasn't disappointed! We had a fantastic sunrise! And I watched as it started as a sliver of light and grew into a fantastic combination of clouds, fog and bright sunlight breaking through. I hope I conveyed the beauty I saw.
02-DEC-2017
The Elusive Kingfisher
I find the Kingfisher to be a most shy bird. They always seem to be so wary of humans and see you before you ever see them. Fortunately, I saw this female Kingfisher at Delta Pond where it seemed to have a favorite place. It would move from one tree to another, the same two trees back and forth. I grabbed a shot of it when it landed in one of them. I am always happy to get a photo of one.
03-DEC-2017
Long Distance Traveler
I forgot about this photo I made a few months ago, so decided to post it now.
The Yellow Warblers have migrated already, traveling long distances. They breed in central and northern North America and head south to spend the winter in Central America and northern South America. Yellow Warblers from eastern North America fly across the Gulf of Mexico to their destination nonstop, while some take an overland route around the Gulf. Amazing journey for such a little bird.
•"Life can be dangerous for a small bird. Yellow Warblers have occasionally been found caught in the strands of an orb weaver spider’s web."
Life is dangerous for little birds like the Yellow Warbler.
06-DEC-2017
In The Fern Ridge Wildlife Area
I am getting opportunity to shoot landscape scenes since the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area is so close now that we have moved out of town. Not much wildlife to be seen this time of year, so I concentrate on enjoying the scenery. It's been a while since I did much landscape photography so this is good for me.
08-DEC-2017
Fern Ridge Wildlife Area - The Barn
I always look at this barn when I visit the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area to see if it contributes to the scene. I liked this view with the nice reflection in the pond. The morning light was just right, making for a golden glow.
09-DEC-2017
Where The Trail Begins!
The sun started to break through and melt the fog that enveloped the wildlife area as I began my walk on the trail there. I looked back and saw this scene that delighted me. The low fog and dark clouds topped by the blue sky and sunshine made for a pretty picture to me. So, of course, I had to make it into a photograph.
11-DEC-2017
Golden-crowned Sparrow, I think!
This appears to be a Golden-crowned Sparrow, even though it doesn't have the black on its head that I see in photos online. Perhaps it is a female or has a winter coat, I don't know. But it sure has that nice golden tough on the top of its head. I think I got it in a nice pose while at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area.
Habitat
"The Golden-crowned Sparrow breeds in shrubby tundra habitats near the coast or in the mountains in Alaska and northwestern Canada. It tends to live near willows, short conifers, and alders, and it gravitates toward moving or standing water. During migration and winter this sparrow spends time in brush, riparian thickets, chaparral, and gardens. It winters from southern British Columbia to northern Baja California, mostly west of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Golden-crowned Sparrows may wander widely, sometimes showing up all the way on the eastern edge of the continent."