Month: May 2017

Marsh Wren

While on my way to visiting the Tree Sparrows that fly the boardwalk at Theler several years ago, I encountered a Marsh Wren singing his heart out. When I stopped to take a picture, it ignored me and continued singing. I ended up getting the best shots I’ve ever gotten of a Marsh Wren. It’s been several years now since I first sighted him, but I still look for him every time we visit there.

He’s been a little harder to find this year and hasn’t yet struck the classic Marsh Wren pose I love, but he’s not shy about letting you know that this is HIS patch of reeds

and you best give it a wide berth.

I suspect he’s not yet ready to advertise for a mate, that he’s too busy still building nests and lining them with fuzz to start advertising quite yet.

His neighbor at the other end of the preserve is apparently further along in construction and is trying to stay ahead of the competition in attracting a mate,

but I’m sure my little friend can’t be far behind.

Birding Theler

It continues to rain here, but we still have managed to get out to Theler Wetlands about once a week. We’ve been seeing Tree Swallows since the first of April, but they’ve now returned in full force, and it’s easy to get a great shot of one resting on the railings

since they’re accustomed to rather steady foot traffic.

The Barn Swallows have also returned, but they’re so busy gathering mud for their nests under the boardwalk that it’s harder to catch a shot of them resting on the rail.

It’s pretty “birdy” at Theler with Redwings

and Song Sparrows

advertising for mates, but I’d continue visiting Theler all summer just for the pleasure of walking the boardwalk with Swallows swooping overhead.

Pigeon Guillemots

I make an annual pilgrimage to Westport to see the Common Loons up close and personal. I always hope to see the Brown Pelicans while I’m there. I even drive down the road to Tokeland to see the Marbled Godwits. Strangely enough, I never anticipate seeing Pigeon Guillemots there, but my best shots of them have been taken at Westport, and I’m always thrilled when they show up while I’m taking photos of the loons.

This time was certainly no exception. This Pigeon Guillemot came so close to the dock that I almost fell off the other side backing up to get it in the picture frame.

This one wasn’t quite as close, but it seemed intent on catching my attention.

The most interesting sequence of the day, though, came while I was photographing this bird and another bird suddenly flew in and came up to the other bird.

Unfortunately, I’m not nearly expert enough on Guillemots to know what exactly was going on, but they definitely gave the impression that the were having some kind of conversation with the bird that flew in having the first say so.

They seemed to look at each other as they floated side by side,

then the first bird seemed to reply to the one that had landed.

For it moment it looked like they were going touch beaks, but, if they did, it was blocked from the camera.

Birds communicate with each other all the time, but this seemed closer to a casual “conversation” than anything I’ve ever observed. Of course since it’s Spring, perhaps it was part of Guillemot courting.

Westport Loons

With a single day of sunshine forecast for the week, Leslie and I headed out to Ocean Shores and Westport last week. Once we reached Ocean Shores we quickly realized it was the high winds from the Northeast that were keeping the fog at bay. While the surf

was quite spectacular, the only birds in sight were a few gulls enjoying flying without having to flap their wings. We saw so few birds that we left too early to eat lunch at The Galway Bay Irish Pub, our usual rest stop.

Luckily, my major goal was to see Common Loons at Westport, and the winds weren’t a factor in the harbor. Westport is the only place I can rely on seeing loons, and I wasn’t disappointed. A large Common Loon in breeding colors was waiting for us at the end of the ramp as we entered the marina.

It’s always hard to tell if you’re seeing a few loons in different places or a lot of different loons, but I got lots of chances to take photos in varying light. Shots like this where the green collar and the red eye are visible are a favorite.