Fog Rolling In

Day 30 / Year 2
05.30.11
Took a few shots at the river this morning and got this one near the Byington Boat Dock of the high water and the fog rolling down the canyon in the background.

Spotted Sandpiper Pair

Day 29 / Year 2
05.29.11
The weather was questionable at best today, but I was able to watch a pair of Spotted Sandpipers and caught them on a short flight from one piece of driftwood to another.

Painted Turtle Family

Day 28 / Year 2
05.28.11
Stopped at the river really quick...there were 6 Painted Turtles sunning themselves.
First shot - Mama, Papa and Baby Turtle.
Second shot - Baby Turtle working on his upper body strength.

Squirrel Portrait

Day 27 / Year 2
05.27.11
I came across this cute Mama Squirrel after work today. She was very cooperative...waiting for some food...

Struggle for a Meal

Day 26 / Year 2
05.26.11
I was lucky enough to witness the most amazing struggle today at the river. This Clark's Grebe surfaced in front of me with a BIG fish. It was really weighing him down and he was struggling to stay above water. I watched for about 10 minutes as he was taken under again and again. As you can see, he must have lost his grip underwater at one point because he came back up with the fish facing the opposite direction. The water was super choppy and eventually he went under and lost his meal. After he lost it, his jaw must have been hurting because he never shut it all the way again while I was there.
It is amazing me what you see if you just take the time to look!

Bath Time

Day 25 / Year 2
05.25.11
It was a beautiful day today. Found this Robin taking a nice bath and this Merganser that had been cleared for take off...

Rain, Rain go away...

Day 24 / Year 2
05.24.11
I thought the No Shooting Sign was pretty fitting today since there was no shooting going on.
It rained the entire day. The only thing I could think was, "there will be no shooting today"...then I remembered this sign, drove over, rolled down my window, took one quick shot and was done.

Painted Turtles

Day 23 / Year 2
05.23.11
We found some Painted Turtles today (at least 5...one a baby).
After observing them for awhile, here are a few facts I now know about Painted Turtles:
1. They don't like people.
2. They dive underwater as soon as they see or hear you.
3. They see and hear VERY well.
4. They don't come back for a really LONG time (maybe never).
5. They are quite interesting creatures to watch.

A View Worth the Climb

Day 22 / Year 2
05.22.11
Today the girls went for a hike. It was MUCH harder than I had imagined but once we got to the top it was well worth the work...and we found Duel...

More Camping Fun

Day 21 / Year 2
05.21.11
We found some fun things to shoot today. First, a Yellow Rumped Warbler, then a REALLY sad looking moose, and finally, Jaycee and the gang (Molly, Gus, Mandy, Farley and Grace). Good times!

Stuff

Day 20 / Year 2
05.20.11
Today was the first day of our camping trip. It was really windy so I just wondered around near camp and found this Salmon Fly and heart shaped rock.

#&$*(#@&!!!

Day 19 / Year 2
05.19.11
Apparently I'm incapable of an in flight shot where I don't clip the wing!
Grrrrrrr...

Families

Day 18 / Year 2
05.18.11
I got some pictures of a couple of families this morning. The first, a Canadian Goose Family and the second, a Mallard Family. Such cute babies...

Snowy Egret

Day 17 / Year 2
05.17.11
Got to spend some time with the Snowy Egret's at lunch today.
I especially liked watching this one stalk his prey.

Mama and Babies

Day 16 / Year 2
05.16.11
Got a few shots of the goose family this morning. It's so cute how they sleep under their mama's wings. I love the one where baby is peaking out...but the one where I caught him yawning is pretty cute too.

Miss Taylor

Day 15 / Year 2
05.15.11
Taylor asked me to take some pictures of her in her prom dress so we went out in the wind and got some shots...over two hundred...
Obviously I haven't had time to go through them all yet, but here are a couple I really like. As you can tell, the second one was a bit of an oops, but I still thought it was cute enough to post! (Hope she agrees)

Balancing Act

Day 14 / Year 2
05.14.11
Caught this Osprey trying to catch his balance on this branch...he did manage to get himself settled eventually.

Belted Kingfisher

Day 13 / Year 2
05.13.11
Found my little Kingfisher again this morning. Maybe if I get enough chances I'll get a really good shot!

Early Morning Birds

Day 12 / Year 2
05.12.11
Stopped by the river this morning and was excited to find a Belted King Fisher, a Snowy Egret and a White Pelican hopping into the water. Not bad!

House Finch

Day 11 / Year 2
I took a few shots on my way to work this morning. I found a pair of House Finches and got this shot of the male. I also got a few shots of a pair of Clark's Grebes and like how this one was holding its head.

Muskrat & Friend

Day 10 / Year 2
05.10.11
I found this muskrat at the river today...his feet and tail are so gross!
I also found this little shore bird. I'm not sure what it is yet but I'll update this when I figure it out. Any ideas?
**UPDATE** I found out this cute little bird is a Spotted Sandpiper.

Water Birds...in the rain...

Day 9 / Year 2
05.09.11
Stopped at the river on the way to work and took a few shots through the rain.
Here is a funny Mallard Duck (he wanted a treat) and a Western Grebe pair.

Decay

Day 8 / Year 2
05.08.11
Snapped this shot of the Farmers Friend Canal head gate today during the rain.
It is in pretty bad shape!

Robin

Day 7/Year 2
05.07.11
Found this cooperative Robin this morning.

Hawk

Day 6/Year 2
05.06.11
Found a couple of hawks in a field this morning. I'm not sure, but think they were Swainson's Hawks.

Birds, birds, birds

Day 5/Year 2
05.04.11
Wow, it is amazing how many birds I saw on my way to work. I LOVE early spring mornings!
Here we go...a Cormorant sunning himself, a Great Blue Heron, a group of American White Pelican's bathing, a Belted King Fisher (not the best shot but I've never gotten one before), a Brewer's Black Bird (Female) with nesting material and a Robin with a big FAT worm.