Those Who Wait

Since yesterday was supposed to be the sunny day of the week, I went to Steilacoom after playing with Mira for awhile. Since birding has been slow, I really wasn’t expecting much more than to get some exercise in the sunshine.

As it turned out, there weren’t many birds there, though there were more Cormorants than usual and a considerable number of American Coots. At one point there was a single duck, which I was hoping was a Scaup far out on the lake, but heading in my direction. Since I hadn’t gotten many shots up till then, I waited longer than usual in one spot, waiting for it to get close enough to get a good shot.

If I hadn’t waited, I would have missed this shot of an Osprey trying to land in the top of a tree directly opposite me,

Osprey Landing

and then flying directly over my heard.

I also ended up with this photo of the Ring-Necked Duck, which seems as good as any I’ve taken before.

Ring-Necked Duck

Meanwhile, a pair of American Coots had apparently tired of me standing there and had left the lake to feed on the grass directly behind me.

American Coot

I’m shocked into instant recognition that they’re not ducks whenever I see them on land because of their odd-looking feet. Someday soon I’m going to have to explore their genetics, since they seem like a weird mixture of heron, duck and chickens.

Speaking of feet, after looking so long at the feet of this American Coot, I was surprised to discover that I’d never really looked at the feet of a Double-Crested Cormorant before:

Cormorant in Tree

3 thoughts on “Those Who Wait”

  1. The osprey picture is fantastic. I’ve been after a good pic of a pair of local red kites for weeks now. Inspired, I shall persevere!

  2. I’d love to see a picture of “red kites” since I’ve never seen one. I’ll be looking forward to your efforts, Dick.

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