And a Marsh Wren singing on territory.
Yesterday morning was slow for birds at Bear River MBR but on the last day of March I did document some signs of early spring.
1/2000, f/10, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I was delighted to see this group of American Avocets resting and preening in shallow calm water that provided mostly undisturbed reflections. Avocets in fresh breeding plumage look so darn purdy compared to their far less colorful nonbreeding plumage.
It was hard to time my shots when I was getting more interesting poses from at least some of the avocets because I spent much of my time fiddle-farting with a malfunctioning lens. The image needs rotation to make it level but doing so would cut off part of the bird on the left so I left it slightly tilted. It’s only a documentary photo anyway.
1/2000, f/10, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Marsh Wrens are dedicated skulkers for much of the year but they’re beginning to sing on territory which makes it a little easier to catch them out in the open. Even though this one wasn’t particularly close it spent quite a while flitting around the tops of the phrags and singing its little heart out.
As each day passes I’m becoming more concerned about our water situation in the current drought. Water levels in much of the refuge were unusually low and some areas were nearly dry. Hopefully that’s at least partly due to water management decisions rather than lack of water.
But I’m afraid it’s going to be a tough year for both birds and bird photographers around here.
Ron
This is a heads or tails post for me. Those Avocet bills and the Wren’s tail are each one’s salient features.
It seems every year is tougher for birds. So goes the photography, I suppose. And birdwatching. And the environment. And so on.
Sadly you’re right, Lyle. On all four counts.
So much of water “management” makes me furious! The city is named after the @)#*U#*)**$# lake, for goodness sake! Why aren’t the idiots doing everything they can to protect it! 😡🤬🤬🤬
Beautiful Avocets and wren. 💜
“Why aren’t the idiots doing everything they can to protect it!”
You’ve answered your own question, Marty. Because they’re idiots.
Dedicated skulker is a wonderful term (and a beautiful small bird wearing that monniker).
The avocets fascinate me in any of their seasonal attire.
And I feel for you on the water front. Far too often much of my country is in drought and the effects are devastating.
Thanks, EC. For the last few years we’ve been in almost continuous drought. The Great Salt Lake is literally drying up, It’s dying.
I know. I have been watching in horror and fear – as I know that you and others have.
Avocets are beautiful and who can resist a singing Marsh Wren? Lens and camera issues are very frustrating. I thought you sent the lens in for repair? I debated going there this morning but just not sure weather I wanted to drive that far and sit in a car that long for one or two birds. Besides watching PBS David Attenborough’s Extinction- The Facts made me feel guilty for using so much gas to drive that far for my own selfish pleasure. My yard needs work and the peach tree is only half trimmed. I am planning my own garden for less water use this drought year, so at home I will stay. I guess my short visit to Farmington Bay yesterday while out helping my parents started the glum feeling. South of Glover Lane where the last open farm and fields remain is all staked and flagged. Development? Highways?
April, hopefully the lens will be sent off today. I ran into some complications that slowed me down.
Development around here is completely out of control, including on Antelope Island if you ask me.
They are especially attractive in their breeding plumage. Nice photos. There’s that word skulking – skulkers – etc again – love it.
We have not seen the Avocets yet, but will be on the lookout for them. Had our first Snowy Egrets show up yesterday.
Everett, “skulking” is perfect for Marsh Wrens for a big part of the year. Some other birds too.
“Do darn purdy”
Avocets take my breath away when they’re all dressed up this time of year. Lovely!
I agree. They’re really attractive and unique birds.
Skulk they do! One needs patience to sit and wait for them to show their sweet faces and then only briefly. Many thanks for the photos of what’s to come! I look forward to spring for the birds returning. I wonder what we will have in the marsh as we did not get the snowfall we usually get; last year we couldn’t drive through it as the road was under water for several weeks. Not so now.
Kathy, it isn’t even hot here yet and we’re dry as a bone in the valleys. Without a miracle we’re in big trouble.
The Indigenous people in my area have put out a call for rain working. C’mon wet stuff!
Hope it works!
“Your” birds are very attractive for an Easterner like me.You often show birds that are only vagrants for us up here in Quebec. This is what makes traveling so interesting. The last time I saw the lovely Avocet was in Arizona a couple of years ago. I see on your excellent photography of the Marsh Wren that the bird is perched on a phragmite. Do you know if it’s “Pragmites australis americanus”, endemic to and largely distributed throughout Canada and USA or if it’s the subspecies “australis”, the invasive subspecies from Eurasia? In Quebec, “Phragmites australis australis” is a real treat with our local vegetation. Ditches along roads and highways are the perfect hosts for this intruder who is now part of our daily lives. Is it the same case for you in Utah? Have a great day!
Laval, the vast majority of our phrags are invasive and they’re a huge problem on our refuges and elsewhere. The amount of time, effort and money spent trying to control them is huge but it’s a losing effort.
The Avocets ARE beautiful in their breeding “garb”…..😀 Love the wrens (house wrens here) except when they choose some problematic places to built nests like at the top of a roll up shade or in a clothes pin bag! 😳 They are persistent about it to! The size and number of the twigs they used is impressive. 😉 Dry, dry, dry here also and creek may go dry this year meaning water hauling for us – our shallow well depends on it – not to mention the critters…😞
Judy, back when I was a kid on the farm we had to haul water from town for a few years. It was a huge hassle so I sure hope you don’t have to do it.
Love those wrens that sing their little itsy bitsy heart out!! I usually join them and we have a duel for a long while 🙂 Thx for sharing the lovely Avocets photo.
I’d like to hear that duet, Terry…