Birds and animals on meadows, open water, streams, and various forest habitats!
One surprise in early May was this Egret pulling fish out of what was really just a little stream of water in a ditch that had been created only by a strong rain. Lord only knows how these little fish had gotten into it but the Egret wasn’t asking any questions!
Red-winged Blackbirds are ubiquitous in the fields, along the water and around the forest areas. At this time of year they seem to dominate the soundscape with their clicks and squawks!
These two male Goldfinches brightened up the start of a morning walk.
On the same walk, I joined the crowd gathered to see this little screech owl.
Coming back later that same day, I ran into a beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeak, singing his heart out.
Minutes later I had a nice photoshoot with this Baltimore Oriole.
Orioles have been very plentiful this year. I have been watching this 1 year old Orchard Oriole. You can see the red color starting to come into his chest and his head is also starting to darken. He is a very chipper young bird!
The Bobolinks and Meadowlarks are still busy nesting and, while the Bobolinks fly around and often can be seen on top of the tall grasses, the Meadowlarks are only heard!
The pond where the Egret was fishing was suddenly filled with tiny Wood Duck ducklings one morning. (Now, a couple of weeks later, they seem to have moved on to greener waters!) This female had 26 of them in tow. I think it may have been a ducky-daycare situation. The pictures aren’t great but it was fun to watch her trying to keep them all together, if not lined up properly!
One evening the woods were reverberating with the charming sound of Wood Thrushes calling back and forth. The birds themselves were elusive! The first one here was the best picture I managed that day, high up in a distant tree. The second picture was taken at Wentworth earlier that day, same scenario. Funny how they are everywhere one day and the following day – silence! A couple of years ago there was a much more cooperative Wood Thrush, also at Silvio Conte, and that is the third picture. They do like to sing!
A coyote isn’t exactly rare in these parts, but we tend to hear them more often than see them. I would have missed this one but, luckily, my friend is an excellent spotter!
There will certainly be more pictures from Silvio Conte, but I think this is plenty for now!