Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Content warning: canoodling Tree Swallows.
Joking aside, I am super thrilled about these photos! The details are crisp, the action is unexpected, and everything these birds do is beautiful.
Except the bit where he seems to be drilling into the back of her head? I’m just going to hope it’s like that pigeon coupling at Piper Spit a while back, just a gentle scratching / preening.
I don’t usually post landscape shots around Reifel — maybe I feel they’ve been done, and passé, and all that stuff. But how can I resist this beautiful cloudy reflection, enhanced by a lone Mallard?
Just a little guy, looking up.
This is probably the same wren we saw two weeks ago. This time, though, it wasn’t building anything, just half-hiding and belting out its arias. I had to work to find just the right angle to shoot, and even then I’m lucky it seemed so focused on singing.
Another attempt at shooting a swallow in flight. You say it barely qualifies? I say shut up it’s airborne and that’s good enough.
I don’t know, I just like this photo. The details, the wrinkles, the messiness.
A little guy, part 2.
(Don’t worry, the whole family was just off camera.)
Hey, how long has it been since I just shot a Wood Duck swimming along?
This must be a House Sparrow fledgling. Subtle clue #1: the presence of a supervising adult. Subtle clue #2: well, look at it! The colour of the wings, the shape of the beak, it’s all there!
I wrote previously that these feeders being in the shade wasn’t ideal, but if I get males at just the right angle the pictures still come out good.
Centennial Beach
Centennial Beach is kind of hit and miss. I’ve seen lovely birbs along the trails, or nice duckies in the pond, or shore-peeps in the shallows near the pump station… but this time they all seemed absent, or too distant. Ah well, it’s a nice little hike. And always a gorgeous view from when you go out on the tidal flats.
To complement the Tree Swallows, here’s a Flame Skimmer (I think) couple. Yes, dragonflies do it differently! FYI the male is on top and more brightly coloured. He’s holding the female with specialised claspers, and I think she’s laying eggs. As I understand it, males are extremely protective of the females they managed to hook up with, and will aggressively drive off any other males that invade their territories. All while keeping an eye out for females that cross their path, and avoiding predators. It’s a busy life!
Speaking of predators, here’s what I think is a flying queen ant who came to an unfortunate end in a House Sparrow’s beak.
Piper Spit
The weather was getting overcast, and I just wasn’t that happy with the shots I took on the spit itself. However, here’s a cute shot of the railways just past the Nature House.
