Fall Festival at Mud Lake (part 2)
September 10th, 2016
The reaction from a young Chesntut-Sided Warbler right after I pished (which I shall dub a "pish-take"):
1680x1050 wallpaper
1680x1050 wallpaper
The male Wild Turkey was looking resplendent. I haven't spotted his mate in months, and as far as I know no one has seen baby turkeys at Mud Lake, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's sequestered away somewhere raising a family. Wild Turkeys hens are very good at being secretive when they have poults to protect! (As for the male, he won't get involved in childrearing, which given his flashy plumage is probably for the best.)
That one is well worth seeing at high res to appreciate the plumage highlights. The small size does not do him justice!
female Northern Cardinal
1680x1050 wallpaper
Gray Catbird greets the morning. It just sat there in the sun for some time. I seldom see this usually skulky species be so visible, except when singing in spring. Probably an inexperienced youngster. Catbirds' alarm calls typically emanate from dense tangles of undergrowth, sounding for all the world like plaintive meows.
Take note, juvie songbirds: this is what trouble looks like. I spotted and photographed this mature Cooper's Hawk in the distance from Cassels Rd. Like the Sharp-Shinned Hawk I had seen two days ago, this is an accipiter, and accipiters are well-known for showing up wherever large flocks of songbirds gather, looking for an unwary or just unlucky bird to call lunch. I climbed up onto the ridge to try for a better, closer vantage on it, but it got chased off by angry Blue Jays before I could get there.
September 10th, 2016
The reaction from a young Chesntut-Sided Warbler right after I pished (which I shall dub a "pish-take"):
1680x1050 wallpaper
1680x1050 wallpaper
The male Wild Turkey was looking resplendent. I haven't spotted his mate in months, and as far as I know no one has seen baby turkeys at Mud Lake, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's sequestered away somewhere raising a family. Wild Turkeys hens are very good at being secretive when they have poults to protect! (As for the male, he won't get involved in childrearing, which given his flashy plumage is probably for the best.)
That one is well worth seeing at high res to appreciate the plumage highlights. The small size does not do him justice!
female Northern Cardinal
1680x1050 wallpaper
Gray Catbird greets the morning. It just sat there in the sun for some time. I seldom see this usually skulky species be so visible, except when singing in spring. Probably an inexperienced youngster. Catbirds' alarm calls typically emanate from dense tangles of undergrowth, sounding for all the world like plaintive meows.
Take note, juvie songbirds: this is what trouble looks like. I spotted and photographed this mature Cooper's Hawk in the distance from Cassels Rd. Like the Sharp-Shinned Hawk I had seen two days ago, this is an accipiter, and accipiters are well-known for showing up wherever large flocks of songbirds gather, looking for an unwary or just unlucky bird to call lunch. I climbed up onto the ridge to try for a better, closer vantage on it, but it got chased off by angry Blue Jays before I could get there.
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Mike
September 11th, 2016 at 7:17 am
Lots of good shots there... the lighting and bokeh on the catbird is really good, and it would make a good desktop.
xiphia
September 12th, 2016 at 1:06 am
Love the catbird pic, you captured a lot of different shades in such a monochrome bird, and the warbler is downright adorable.