Todays Birds

[jeeperman]

Many of you might remember from last spring that I have a favorite park to stop at while working. I have been by there a couple times lately and it has been really quiet. Knowing the spring birds are on their way and a break in todays rain I decided to stop in today on the way home. Nothing special has made it in yet but there were a few more birds than there has been. C&C always welcome, although this will be a little image heavy as I am mostly sharing.


This is our resident Red Tail Hawk, he is banded 91 and has keep the park clean of vermin for years


Red Winged Blackbirds are comming in. This is the male, the next is the female.




Sandpiper. This was about a 90% crop, he just would not come to me! Caught himself a worm.


Ofcourse I could not pass up a nice wood duck reflection.


The equivalent of the office water cooler, all the birds a gossip. Coots.


Little Female Merganzer.

[jamn4ex]

love that last one Paul!

[jeeperman]

Thanks, James.

[splashy]

Really very beautiful birds, I'm amazed almost everyday how good the 'amateur' pictures are the last years, this went up to a very high level. And I'm sure this is also thanks to the giant jump ahead of Sony camera's.

[Aforns]

Impressive set in every way Paul !!! ... wonder what the middle coot is saying

[jeeperman]

Yes, Mike they are. Common but beautiful none the less.

Thanks, Alfred. if one only new how to speak Coot......did you see that Eagle get Joey yesterday?

[Downrigger]

Wow! You do these so very well. JJ Audubon move over. You make it look easy. I know otherwise. These are just great.

[Bobobird]

An excellent set of shots. I like them all. Well done.

With long range ones like that sandpiper, I tend to just let it go until such time that I can get a close clean shot. But a 90% crop here is impressive.

[jeeperman]

Thanks, Mark and Bobo. Yes I normally pass on those long shots as well. I figured I would take this one because it had been 3 yrs since I saw a Sandpiper here. I am part of a group whom post images taken only at this park. The postings are for the public whom do or might want to frequent the park.

[Cantab]

Paul, the female hooded(?) merganser is especially wonderful. I don't think I've ever seen one out of the water. The detail in the feathers is spectacular. I saw a large collection of coots today at a marsh upisland from Victoria but wasn't close enough to try for pictures like yours.

[jeeperman]

Thanks, Bruce. Now looking at that Meranser a little closer.....it is an immature bird. This means it could be male or female. I might have to guess male, now. The female ends up with a yellowish bill and dark eye.

[terrib]

these are great, Paul. I can't really pick a favorite. The Merganser is interesting because I've never seen one.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[BCrose]

Nice images. Can't wait until they all show up for the Spring migration and you can share even more! Your Sony does really well at this.