Wild Bird Wednesday

First I'll share another bird I saw in Reno at the Swan Lake

HERE's my previous blog showing the other birds I saw there.

Below is a cute little American Avocet, a life bird for me!

American Avocet

I discovered a new Wetland area very close to my home, I spent a couple hours there yesterday.

North Creek Park

I heard this wonderful little Wren for a long time and could never get a picture, the grasses are all above my head in most areas so unless the bird perches in a tree or on the top of one of these Cat Tails I can't see them.  Then finally this little one was kind enough to perch on a spot I could see from the walk way, stayed there singing away long enough for me to get several good pictures!

Marsh Wren

Then he/she grabbed a bit of nesting material before flying away. 

Below is a different Marsh Wren singing up a storm.

Towards the end of the walk I saw this Bald Eagle coming in and landing, fortunately I was in a spot I could fairly easily move to a spot I could zoom in on it taking a drink!

Red Winged Blackbird

This little Savannah Sparrow was the first bird I saw as I was entering the wetlands.

 So happy I got such a charming shot!

Savannah Sparrow

Kristi

Bald Eagle WBW

My first Bald Eagle photo, well almost...

the first good one that I actually had a lens that could reach far enough.

I visited friends in Big Lake over the weekend

 and was told there had been Bald Eagles out in abundance

 so I was hopeful I had a good chance.

 Time went by and I almost had given up hope of seeing one when this big beauty showed up!

I was rushing around like a crazy person trying to get a good shot and this is the best of the bunch.

I was in the middle of moving the camera to a different spot when it took off, by the time I got set up and got the camer pointed in the right direction it was quite a distance away.

 I would have been so happy to get one of it launching from the branch,

 but I'm VERY HAPPY to have gotten this photo!

 Maybe next time!

Kristi

Birch Bay Wildlife and more

Last weekend we went Birch Bay, I was very excited to see a Baldy within minutes of arriving. The first thing we did was walk down the main drag to see what shops and restaurants were close by and there he was at the top of this tree. He was there for a long long time, in spite of being harassed quite strongly by a crow, I was hoping to catch him taking off but one minute he was there and the next he wasn't.

Numerous times thoughout the 3 days we were there I saw Blue Heron (I believe that's what they are, please correct me if I'm wrong) fishing in this inlet off the beach. I was lucky enough to catch one right after take off, they are amazing!

This Seagull was posing for me atop this piling at the end of an old pier so I just had to take his picture, a typical seabird shot.

We walked through a Wetland area across these paths that had been constructed, I couldn't take many pictures because I really had to pay attention to where I was walking. This quick shot is not of the branch which is what was in focus but of the pathway partially under water. We got to the point where the water was too deep coming across so we turned around. None of us were prepared to walk in deep water.

I also got some beautiful shots of Mount Baker! At one point we climbed up a big viewing tower and I got a couple pics from up there, but it was a beautiful clear day and I got just as many great pictures from the ground. I love seeing the shadow on the mountain of the big cluster of clouds passing over.

Kristi