I got a tip about a couple of ponds in the area that have some birds hanging out that I had not seen before or seen this year. Going and checking them out sure paid off, one pond I had to get permission from the owner before I could go down and look around but it was worth it.
Everyday that I go out and look at birds I become even more amazed about how many different species there are and how different each one is. I am also amazed at how each one acts so differently. For example a Great Blue heron spots me a hundred yards off and it is gone. Whereas I am on the shore of a pond and a Common Loon will swim right by me. I am starting to notice and learn different ways to observe birds based on what I know they will do and always giving them plenty of room. Most of shots are taken with a 500mm lens so I can creep up on them from behind a tree.
Here are a couple of Mourning doves trying to soak up what ever sun they can after a few inches of snow fell last night.
Mourning Dove, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
Here is one of my lifers from today an Eared Greebe another one of those birds that could careless if you hung around for a little bit.
Eared Greebe, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
I have been able to see a lot of Greater and Lesser Scaups but never close enough to get a good picture. While I was at one of the ponds today hiding behind some willows these two floated right on pass.
Greater Scaup, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
The pond was covered in different swallows hovering over the water feasting on whatever insects were there to take advantage of.
Swallow, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
Killdeer were all over the place trying to lead me away from where they wanted to be.
Killdeer, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
My favorite bird that I saw today that is a lifer and one of the type of birds that I can remember wanting to see for half of my life. I lived for a while close to a lake in the Sierra Nevada's called Loon lake and I been heard about the loons in the area but never saw them that I can remember.
Something that I thought that was interesting is I could hear a loon calling in the distance and it looked like this one was answering. But I was pretty close ad it would open its mouth and no sound would follow.
Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
Common Loon, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
One of the birds that is most elusive when ever I find one in the perfect pose for a picture. I have tried everything to circle back and get a picture and they are always to fast and I miss the shot.
Great Blue Heron, 04-29-2011, Rexburg, ID. Canon 60D, 500mm.
Todays List
Common Loon, Eared Greebe, Forster's Tern, Ruddy Duck, Greater Scaup, Bald Eagle, American Pipit, Gray Partridge, Western Grebe, Hooded Merganser, American Avocet, American Coot, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Blue Heron, Mallards, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Merganser, Sand piper, Mourning Dove, Lesser Yellowlegs, Western Meadow Lark, Swainson's hawk, and Double Crested Cormorant.
