Many birders keep lists of the birds they have seen; I don't. Half the time, I don't know what it was I saw, just that it was beautiful; half the time, I only saw a smidgen of bird, anyhow. Was that a wren? Or a sparrow? Or maybe a mouse?
My lists would be made up of "maybes". So I am sure that the black-headed grosbeaks we saw on Sunday were not lifers; I'm sure I must have seen some before. I just didn't know what they were. Now I do, and I know what their song is like; "a drunken robin", says my guide book, and that describes it perfectly. Next time, I'll actually remember! (Thanks to
Hugh, who does know these things.)
So here are two grosbeaks, and a handful of other delights from Sunday's outing at Reifel Island, in no particular order:
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| Black-headed grosbeak at a feeder. Male. |
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| Another one, overhead. |
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| Brown-headed cowbird. |
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| Silverweed |
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| Reflections in shallow water, with bird seed. |
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| This Canada goose was standing guard near a large gathering of goslings and parents. |
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| I love those "socks"! |
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| Comfy |
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| A mallard duckling struggling up a dusty bank. |
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| Tree swallow atop his house. |
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| Not a bird. |
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| Wood duck pair. Look at that purple head! |
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| Reflections in still water |
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| Fluffy cattails |
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| Sparrow. House, I think. |
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| Cedar waxwing. I cheated here; in the original photo, the top of its crest was cut off. I cloned the bit that was missing, plus some leaves for the background. |
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| Cow parsnip, against the light. |
We missed seeing the sandhill cranes; one of the paths is barricaded, because they are raising their families in that area. We'll have to go back soon, to see the chicks when they start wandering.
