Our winter hummingbird out and about

Coming back in from a walk on Wednesday I saw our hummingbird on the road edge. She was flitting about some sunny weeds low to the ground (looking for bugs?) and then landing.

Duck, duck, goose .... DUCK!

The waterfowl are here now that the water level is down and the cold has set in. And that brings in (for a few years now) the eagles. The wounded are easy prey and maybe they bring in the expert eagles, but Wednesday I watched eagles (three total) fly repeatedly over the mixed fowl trying to get a start, a chase ... you can see one flying over the group here. These eagles were at quite a distance but I watched them perch and fly, taking turns, swooping very low over the fowl.

When an eagle flies overhead the small ducks 'dive, dive, dive!' ... it's just like watching an old black and white submarine movie.

Just keep paddling!

Heads tucked into their wings, and briskly moving on into a head wind. They were aiming for a larger group of mixed waterfowl; I suspect they find warmth and protection in the larger groups.

"Baby, it's Cold Outside"

You can hear Ella Fitzgerald singing the Frank Loesser classic while looking at this morning scene. Ice is forming along the banks and will continue to form with the sub-freezing temps this week. The swans sang all night, the ruddys are sleeping this morning. Luckily the wind is mild and I can head back out this afternoon to try some more shots. I like just sitting out there and taking it all in, even in the cold outside.

Swan Circle

If you spend some time observing these fine birds, you will see them spontaneously, it seems, form small circles where alot of calling and flapping goes on. It's quite a burst of noise and activity. Young males? Family leaders? It starts with one or two stretching out their long necks and calling in a taunting manner and then others join in, it builds to it's highest level with the beating of the wings and then they all settle again.

House Party

House Finches gather in a sunny spot protected from the bitter cold wind.

Another Buffy Trio

Three buffleheads on a recent sunny day.