Refuge Sunday

Sunday at the refuge was a bit quiet but a lot of diversity. No hawks, only a Kestrel to represent the raptors. Pleasant day to be out there. 

Common terns are back and fishing...

Sandhill cranes being buzzed by a Black-necked stilt while a Red-winged blackbird watches..

Peaceful beauty..

Representative of Red-winged blackbirds - bright and noisy..

Storm clouds threatened but didn't deliver..

Eastern kingbird - a flycatcher - first one I've seen..

The "other" bright and noisy occupant of the wetlands..

Two yellow birds..one hunting and one singing..Western kingbird and Western meadowlark..

Zoo visit

A beautiful morning for a zoo photo walk with Randy. We beat the crowds, thanks goodness.. 

Love those nails..

Don't think she wanted to wake up!

Little one growing big..

Lady Bengal posing..

Orange Goddess..

Pallas cat..

The eye of a rhinoceros ...

He entertained a bunch of kids for quite awhile..

Waiting for breakfast..

Refuge Friday

 A sunny morning but cool made for a good refuge visit.  A few choice birds and not many people. Here's my choices from the visit..

American Avocets in breeding plumage..cute snore birds..

Great Blue Heron..

"Bad hair day" Kingfisher ..they always seem to have bad hair days!

Mallard..beautiful, smooth, unhurried..

Great White Pelicans..soaring, soaring..

Sandhill cranes moving by..

The star of the trip - Yellow-headed blackbird

Spring flowers

 57 degrees and sunshine and spring is here!

Backyard birds..

 Yesterday was a good day for backyard birds..our friend, the Cooper's dropped by and a Spotted Towhee posed for a moment. 

Enjoy!

Beautiful house finch

Oregon Junco..

Spotted Towhee..

Ogden Bay WMA

 I was up oil Ogden yesterday, accompanying my wife as she did supply work of the Church of the Good Shepherd there. Due to a tip from one of the folks there, I visited the Ogden Bay WMA..quite a place. Over 20,000 acres, lots of water and lots of wildlife. 

I walked a ways into the refuge, then returned to the car. The wind was cold and I don't tolerate cold as well as I used to.

Here's a sampling of what I saw, both on the way to the refuge and while at the refuge..

Milkweed...

Osprey on light post over a busy street in Ogden..

Pheasants..one male seemed to have his harem while the other passed by fairly quickly..

Red-tailed in nest..

Quite a number of Sandhill Cranes around..beautiful as usual..

Tundra swans I believe, did't get close enough to be certain of that but they look right..

Refuge Friday

Sunnfy Friday and lots of folks eat the refuge. Word is apparently out that there are eagles(s) there, almost a traffic jam in front of where the eagle was.

Tundra swans were my favorite - mostly unexpected but so elegant. The Harriers were expected, not paying a lot of attention to vehicles.

Enjoy

Eagle had something to eat..sat in tree for well over an hour and entertained lots of visitors..

Female Harrier

No visit is complete without a RWB photo

Tundra swans..always a joy to see..