Bird Photography Weekly-Snowy Egret

Holy Crap!  This water is COLD!

This picture always cracks me up.  I spied this Snowy Egret on the Texas coast in May so the water was not terribly cold, but by the look on its face, it seems to be thinking it.  Actually it was really windy and the surf was pretty rough that day.  You can see the foam and the force of the water as it surges around the bird’s legs.

To see other birds faces check out Bird Photography Weekly.

Ross’s Goose in Franklin Lakes, NJ

After dipping on the Barnacle Goose yesterday, I really wanted to get the Ross’s today, especially since it is so close by. I called my birding bud this morning at the crack of dawn (well it was really more like 8:30, which is still pretty early for a Sunday.) to see if she wanted to come along and got a reluctant Yes. It would be a lifer for both of us.

We arrived at the pond to see 2 young men getting back in their car with long faces. I rolled down my window to ask the all-important question. Did you see the goose? They both broke out into big grins and came walking over. Yes, indeed, they had. It was with a small flock of Canada Geese.

It was one of those rare occasions where you go to where the bird is and get out of the car and Voila! There it is. And I mean right there. No scope required. Nice. I love when that happens.

All kinds of things turn up in wintering flocks of Canada Geese.  It pays to scope them out and read the local ListServ.

Red Crossbill in NJ

On the 3rd try I finally got a really good look at the female Red Crossbill that I have been stalking since last weekend.  She is a late riser, so I didn’t kill myself getting there super early only to find out that she had been spotted at 7:30am.  Figures.  But not having to work, and wearing heavy winter gear; I was prepared to camp out for hours if need be.  Within 10 minutes of standing in the driveway, however, she appeared at the neighbor’s feeders.  Karla spotted her first and we all got on her.  She would fly back and forth from the feeder to a bare oak almost always with a male Goldfinch.  I left shortly after 11 having seen her many times.  Now, I need a good photo of her.   I have hope, she has been here a week and does not appear to be going anywhere.  This photo is one of the ones Karla Risdon took crawling commando style across her dining room floor as the Crossbill fed in a window feeder.  Thanks Karla for letting me post it.

Chickadee demise

Oooooh! I’m hopping mad.  Some local marauding feline has eaten one of MY Chickadees!  I found 2 bedraggled wings when I came home last night.  I have seen a few sleek well-cared for suspects.  All, I’m sure, are much-loved house cats that their owners let out.  The first time I noticed I might have a problem is when I saw a huge cat that was the spitting image of my Tonka (who was safely ensconced in the house).  I panicked thinking he had somehow gotten out.  It turns out not, but it gave me a start and a sinking feeling.  Why anyone would let their cats out up here on the mountain is beyond me.  We have not only bears, but fox, bobcat, coyote, and owls not to mention ‘coon and ‘possum that can be terrors when cornered and come out fighting.  The dangers are real.

As a cat lover and owner of 4 indoor well-fed, kitties who are living the life of Riley, I beg you keep your cats indoors.  Even well-fed cats will hunt birds and other small critters.  Millions of birds are killed every year because of predation.  It breaks my heart that I am trying to make my property a sanctuary for birds by offering shelter, water and food only to put the birds’ lives at risk by having it invaded by the local serial-killer.

Bird Photography Weekly

This picture is a few years old and was taken at a sewage treatment plant–one of my favorite places to bird.  It’s true.  Have you tried it?

I have 2 favorite ones.  The first time I was ever at a sewage treatment facility it was at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in Nevada, outside of Las Vegas.  It was amazing.  If you are ever near Vegas, you gotta go there!  The second time was at the Port Aransas Birding Center in Port Aransas, Texas.  This picture was taken there.

I almost always find something interesting at a sewage treatment plant.  Um, other than what you would expect.  To see other interesting birds check out what is going on at BirdFreak this week.