Thirteen photos of eleven species.
Occasionally I post a collection of photos that don’t quite cut the mustard as standalone shots but I think they still have something to offer, collectively if not individually. Each of these 13 photos was taken at or near Bear River MBR in the last 13 days.
A White-faced Ibis dumping a load at sunrise. Funky light.
A Red-winged Blackbird feeding on sunflower seeds. Ironically, I had a mouthful of sunflower seeds when I took the photo. Yes, when I’m in the field I occasionally eat sunflower seeds for breakfast. Not instead of a chocolate donut, in addition to…
I’m only including this photo of a Franklin’s Gull because this bird, and a few others out of frame to the left, were the first Franklin’s Gulls I’ve seen this season. Good to see them back.
An American White Pelican in flight. This is one of the low-flying pelicans that spooked the immature Black-crowned Night Heron I posted a few days ago, which distracted me and prevented me from getting takeoff and flight shots of the heron.
A Snowy Egret skimming over the phrags. I think there’s interesting side light on the bird. Its feet are in shade so its “slippers” don’t appear to be golden.
An incredibly patient adult Eastern Kingbird with two pestering youngsters below ‘her’.
Here she’d climbed above them in an attempt to get a respite from their clingy ways. I was too close to them so all we see of the second youngster is a tiny portion of its back at lower left. I found this family unit every time I visited the refuge over a span of several weeks but there were always twigs in the way.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds like sunflower seeds too.
I was curious about what this immature White-faced Ibis was eating so I tried to time my shots to allow me to see what it was. I still don’t know. Whatever it was, was enclosed in a glob of water.
Usually, Great Blue Herons in flight are slow and lumbering but this one had turned on its afterburners for a reason.
It was chasing another heron away from its feeding territory. I never did get both birds fully in frame.
A Tree Swallow on phrags at dawn.
A Solitary Sandpiper who seems not so solitary accompanied by its own reflection.
When I see photos similar to this one, my brain often asks the question – “There’s mud above the bird’s head so why isn’t there mud below its head in the reflection?” I know why that’s the case, but it always takes me aback for a moment anyway.
As of 12 days ago, Western Grebes were still feeding fish to their youngsters. I expect some of them still are.
So there you have it. There isn’t a prize winner in the bunch but these photos are a fairly accurate representation of the species I’ve been photographing lately and at least some of them are interesting in their own right.
Ron
The galley gave me a bit of a feel for what it was like for you in the field and I very much enjoyed that. My favorites were the snowy egret, the pelican and the western grebe. Thank you!
Good. Thanks, Pat.
I particularly liked the leaning yellow head blackbird. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen.
That is quite a load that the ibis was dumping. Better out than in.
I do love your birdpourri. So much.
Many thanks.
“Better out than in”
EC, I thought of that line this morning. And of you, since it’s your line.
Great and very interesting shots Ron. I particularly like the view of the young Western Grebe about to get a big fat prize. Thanks for sharing these.
Thanks, Bill. I went to BRMBR again this morning. Lots of grebes are still feeding chicks.
super series!
Thanks, Charlotte.
Thanks for showing this type of a gallery. I don’t think I had much reason to look close at a White-faced Ibis before. What I was remarked about was the oddly unsecured pink skin that almost looks to be a carelessly stretched soft mask. Or a recent delicate surgery that is stretched around the bill, the corner of face and so on. There’s a reason I’m sure as Nature always does have one. You’ve given me some other things to look for when curious about details that are so defining of a species from seeing this gallery, beyond the beauty of a birds shapely torso and long choreographed colors of feathers. I learn something from your photography all the time. Hope the White-faced Ibis caught that tiny water bubble of a tasty tidbit.
Deb, during the breeding season that pink skin will have a white border around it – thus their name.
Thirteen was a magical number — really nice photos.
Kent, I’m not a hotel so don’t try to avoid the number 13… 🙂
The contrail is my favorite too! And my specialty…
Thanks, Burrdoo.
Wow what a show !! I have never seen an Ibis make an in-flight dump before. That is a first for me. All fun photos. I think that is just a drop of water in the 2nd Ibis shot. You can tell migration is in full swing when you can post that much variety. Great job.
My favorite is the Pelican.
Thanks, Everett. I actually think there’s a small invertebrate in that water drop.
I think Granny Pat said it well-your WHOLE DAY and its catch is
the prizewinner…….but the “contrail” behind the white-faced ibis
is a winner in its own right !
Kris, I’m usually not one to post poop shots but sometimes I can’t resist.
Prizewinning! Well, I think the prizewinning is you for having such an active and varied day in the field. Loved them all.
Thanks, Granny Pat. These photos actually represent three of four days in the field.
I particularly love the Snowy, the Swallow, the Ibis, and the Yellow-headed Blackbird in the sunflowers. Of these, my favorite is the Snowy.
Good to know you like the Snowy, Sallie. With that sidelight I wasn’t sure it would have any fans other than me.