Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
It was a pretty nice day! And as per usual this season, the light was low enough that it shone directly on the hummingbirds at the feeder behind the main office.
Shiny shiny!
I’ll never say no to a Mallard glamour shot. Look at her soft brown eyes! The delicate texture of her head plumage! The little bits of seeds stuck to her bill!
I love the colours here, and I bet she does too!
Dramatic shadow!
It’s unusual to see two adult Bald Eagles sitting companionably so close together! Well, two Bald Eagles of any age, really, they never struck me as the parental type. But maybe they’re a couple? I assume couples must tolerate each other’s presence even outside of breeding season.
“I’m going to a place nearby, gotta go.”
I never get tired of these ducks
Nor these ones! Even if I always grumble and wonder why on Gawd’s green Earth their common species name refers to their not-always visible neck colour and not their intensely “look at this!” tri-tone bills.
Of course, wigeons are cute from any angle.
Okay, in addition to the silly pine needle accessories, I love what it shows of this Mallard’s head plumage. It looks like there are multiple layers (not that surprising, of course), with only the very top one sporting green iridescence. The next one down is more brownish / goldish?
Behold its mighty feet!
Glamour, take 2.
A chickadee doing what they do best: looking cute and eating
A Golden-crowned Sparrow doing what they do best: being yellow on top.
Piper Spit
We keep seeing this gang of cormorants way in the distance, hanging out and fanning their wings.Thinking about it, it may be the best spot for them: closer to the spit and they’d have to deal with crows and seagulls and whatnot. Further away and the water would be too deep. I guess there are multiple spots with the characteristics, but I guessl they adopted this one and will keep on using it, come hell or high water.
Not quite mirror smooth, but I’ll take it!
