Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Everything looks good When It's Sunny And 60!

We were blessed with a sunny 60 degree day yesterday! I added a few species to my county list which is up to about 65 species for the year.

 There is a nice mix of ducks up in that cove including: Common Goldeneye, Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Bufflehead, Mallard, and Black Ducks. If you can see them then you are one of the fortunate ones who don't need binoculars!

It's strange how your senses come alive when the weather is nice. Everything seemed pristine to me whether it be a view of an icy cove....
.....a hungry hawk holding onto a power line.....
...or a sparrow peaking his head up out of the bushes. It really didn't matter. Everything is lollipops and roses when the weather treats you right!

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Seeing The Waxwings Through The Cedars

Saturday was a 50 degree soul-warming day of sunshine. I checked the local Harris preserve to see what was around. I would have enjoyed seeing any birds on such a nice day but as I peered into a mess of tangled cedars I caught a glimpse of one of my favorite birds.
 I love Cedar Waxwings! I never get tired of seeing them because they show up randomly and have striking detailed markings that make them stand out from other species. They are usually fairly cooperative with the camera but on this morning they were hiding in the shady shadows.I was able to get very close to them at times even though the lighting was very limited. If you look closely, you can can see the little red marks on the wings that gives them their name-waxwings.What do waxwings like to eat? I've seen them catching insects in mid-air during the summer but most of the time they are after fruit and berries when I find them.I had a great morning sneaking through the trees for a for a closer look. Hmm, maybe too close?