In the last three days I’ve visited three urban ponds in the Salt Lake Valley while looking for birds, in addition to my very long and mostly unproductive trip to the west desert. I didn’t find much at the ponds either, but I didn’t get skunked.
A couple of Gadwalls hanging out together. They were very “clingy” but this is the only shot I got where both were sharp and both had light in their eye.
A Redhead just prior to sundown, thus the warm light. This is a lower shooting angle than I usually get with ducks on a pond, which I like.
A Belted Kingfisher (a male I believe, although I never got a good look at the front of him) that I hold responsible for preventing me from getting several interesting action shots of other birds.
For more than an hour he chattered from the trees that were far too distant for me to get good shots of him. Occasionally he’d fly in closer and his almost constant chattering made him impossible to ignore so I spent way too much time watching him. Concentrating on him caused me to miss several takeoffs and brief bird fights that occurred among other birds. Thanks a lot, Bud.
A post-bath wing flap from a male Common Goldeneye.
Perhaps the most boring Great Blue Heron I ever spent time with.
I watched this bird closely for an hour and 20 minutes, fully expecting ‘him’ to eventually do something interesting like preen, or take off or go fishing in the water that was just below him. But in that much time all he did was turn his head a couple of times, stand on one foot instead of two and close his eyes and sleep. In this shot I consider myself lucky to get his eyes fully open.
I don’t end a blog post with a Mallard very often but this guy is in such fine fettle I think he deserves to be the closer. Drake Mallards in good light and swimming through, and providing, interesting water reflections are hard to beat. I think the floating feather is a bonus.
We need snow, lots of snow, to bring in more birds. And to rescue our increasingly thirsty Great Salt Lake.
Ron
Okay! I was able to name 5 of the 6 birds here.
I’ve commented before I always like to take your bird potpourri as a fun bird quiz. Thank you for sharing!
(Note to self: need to see more Gadwalls)
Also learned a new word today. “Fettle” 😀
When I googled it Google wanted to know my location for some reason.
That Mallard is worth the wait! So handsome! And the GBH is looking mighty good too.
We’re supposed to be getting rain next week, so hopefully that will translate into some snow for you.
I hope we both get in that weather pattern, Marty. It’s overdue.
A nice series. Yes is is bird slow! Even my yard, however I blame the abundance of hawks this year for my yard situation. I though I might walk some of the ponds and local streams next week rather than drive long distances. I would still like to try the west desert to get some drive time on the 4runner. We need to hit the recommended 1000 miles before taking it on an extended long trip and high speeds. Plus I would like to get use to it’s feel when driving.
April, if you want miles I’ll be glad to give you some of mine!
The Mallard looks to have turned on his afterburners, that bright orange is like 🔥 underwater! Lots of pretty birds, but he definitely takes today’s prize, I think.
You need snow, we need rain—which we *may* get next week, but it’s far too warm today (nearing 80). Hard to get into the holiday spirit—so fingers X’d the weather gods cooperate, and soon!
Glad you appreciate the Mallard, Chris. I think he’s just gorgeous.
Yikes, I didn’t purposely copy EC’s very last comment … the power of suggestion, I guess? 🫢
How I love the showy colours of the Mallard. And you are right, the floating feather is a bonus.
I do hope you get the much needed snow. And soon.
EC, our snow situation is beginning to get my attention. We’ve had some in the mountains but very little down here so far.
NICE collection, Ron. 🙂 The Mallard drake is stunning!
We do have one mature Bald Eagle hanging out towards Highwood. Some Grey Crowned Rosy Finches around this year – better than last year when we had none but not near the numbers in years prior to that. These had a “learning curve” with the feeded. Sparrows of some sorts that are also learning to use the feederds and the usual Black Capped Chickadees, Red Brested Nutchhatches are about it.
Judy, I’ve only seen Gray-crowned Rosy Finches once. There was a bunch of them but I haven’t seen any since.
They are a predator’s nightmare in flight as they all go different directions within the flock – VERY confusing. Probably have only had them in the past 10 yrs generally during cold weather as they migrate in elevation rather than N/S
A “predator’s nightmare” is an excellent way to put it.
The light on the drake mallard was SO good that even underwater,
the brilliant orange of his legs and feet really “glowed”. In studying
the great blue heron–a shot I really admired, by the way, I was
remembering what good muscle tone is required to stand
very still for a long time. The demands of birds’ lives keep them in that kind of shape–a human has to be a dancer or an athlete to do it !
” I was remembering what good muscle tone is required to stand
very still for a long time”
Good point, Kris. Soldiers standing at attention for a long time are a case in point – fainting or muscle cramps are often a result.
You are so right about the muscles involved in standing still. My sadist of a physiotherapist had me doing just that (and attempting to stand on one leg) the other day and the wobble I quickly developed was extreme.
😒
Pretty nice birds for an urban pond. Any urban pond I know would have lbjs, maybe red-wing blackbird, maybe mallard, and assorted geese.
Thanks, Cheryl. And probably coots…
Great shots!
Thanks.
Very nice Ron. Love the Goldeneye saying, “Hey Ron, how’s it going? Haven’t seen you in ages. Very good shot of the Redhead.
Yes you can waste lots of time with the Kingfishers and come away empty more often than not. Like you, we are going to need lots of snow this winter. All five of our lakes are down considerably. The one advantage to that is that the shallow water brings more wadding birds than normal.
“one advantage to that is that the shallow water brings more wadding birds than normal”
Everett, most of our wading birds leave for the winter so this time of year that doesn’t help photographers much.
I think a lot of those come here because our winters start later than yours
Probably so.
Those chatty Kingfishers are hard to ignore.
Those first and last shots are beautiful.
Any day out birding is a good day I think.
Impossible, if you ask me.
Thanks.
Better than staying home anyway.