Of course the signs of spring aren't limited to just birds. I'll be back in a few days with some freshly emerging buds and some other goodies. Until then, enjoy the weather - no matter which season surrounds you and thanks always for joining me.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Springaling
So spring has sprung, it would seem. Birds have returned from their winter hideaways. Males are singing their hearts out high atop trees. Mallards and geese are pairing up. And some birds are fighting for the rights to their chosen mates
My true first sign of the season is the return of the red-winged blackbirds with their wonderful "Bdleeeeeeeeeeet." Their calls, along with a few other bird sounds are the noises which define spring and summer for me.
They're lovely in flight. These two allowed me to approach the tree upon which they were perched. Then they decided to show off with a bit of aerial acrobatics for my camera. At least that's what I like to believe.
Gulls are beautiful to watch in flight.
And at rest.
And at hurried departure due to woman with camera approaching.
Duck fight! There are only so many female mallards at this pond.
This guy has successfully chased his rival right out of the camera frame.
Have a look at this flurry of activity in front of the tree. It would appear that these robins were squabbling about something.
Here there are, face to face - a stand fly off. How do you suppose this stated?
Ah there she is, waiting patiently while the males fight over her. It looks like we have a winner.
Of course the signs of spring aren't limited to just birds. I'll be back in a few days with some freshly emerging buds and some other goodies. Until then, enjoy the weather - no matter which season surrounds you and thanks always for joining me.
Of course the signs of spring aren't limited to just birds. I'll be back in a few days with some freshly emerging buds and some other goodies. Until then, enjoy the weather - no matter which season surrounds you and thanks always for joining me.
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61 comments:
Love the one of the duck chasing the other out of the picture frame. Great stop action.
Knowing Spring is over there on the other side of the country, gives me hope it will eventually show up here too. Snow is forecasted for tomorrow.
Your second to last photograph is truly showing all the agitation amongst the birds. Spring is indeed in the air. Enjoy, it Hilary :-)
Your series captures in large part the eternal vestibule of Spring migration from which they came; settling anew the next dance and generations to follow.
I love the duck fight. All are beautiful. I smiled right thought this . Loved it !!
The birds are back here, but it's still more winter than spring!
Love all your bird shots!
Here, the snow is gone, and the geese have returned to the river. Sadly I haven't taken any pictures.
Talk about action-packed! This post aint just for the birds. Well, technically it is but you know what I mean.
Love those mallards having a good splash in the pond!
English robins are quite aggressive with each other. They look entirely different from yours though.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Wow! Excellent bird captures! Interesting to see their action shots.
I love how you seem to become one with your subjects. I envy your knowledge of nature. :) I hope you'll be able to capture these images forever.
I know! We just noticed the red wing blackbirds and their call Saturday!
Beautiful birds. I love the gull picture.
th pic of the ducks diving off the railing is just amazing hilary...cool capture...and the one of the squabble there toward the end...perhaps they are just playing tag...smiles.
Great snaps, Hilary.
As so often happens with your posts, with each successive photo, I thought I had found my favorite. Not. They're all terrific, and your narration is perfect. We've got a lot of bird squabbling going on among the evergreens in our back yard, too, right now. There's so much drama out there that it's entertaining to just sit by a window and watch.
Those waterfowl types are really active. Hope no one gets hurt in all this vying for attention.
Oh, don't the blackbirds just DO IT FOR YOU??? Me too!
What a magical sight!You are Good!
Rita
great pictures...we still have quite a bit of snow, but the temperatures are spouse to go up this week, so i hope i see some string myself
Those gull pictures are simply wonderful. I also love watching the mating displays of the birds around here. That robin dustup is one I haven't seen, although we have plenty of robins. I'll start watching them more carefully. Thanks for the great shots, as usual!!
I love how naturally noisy spring is, I've yet to distinguish any calls except for the cardinals. I'll keep my ears open next time I see a blackbird. The gull with the black tip wings is my favorite shot :)
you're definitely seeing a lot of action, there! and catching some great shots! :)
Beautiful pics and hoorah to all the males who won that day!!
Have a fabulous day dear friend.
Hugs'
SueAnn
I love the birdies!!!
The turkeys are showing up at our house.
Love it!
I got caught up in a "fly off" in my own backyard. I think they were using me as a barricade as they wildly flew at each other and then diverted at the last moment. I couldn't decide where to go while Hope stood a few feet away laughing and asking me how I was doing it.
She thinks I control the birds, how about that :)
I love the first shot - he has quite a grip on the metal
Happy Spring to all
Each time I browse through your photos, I have to go through just one more time. And study them. It makes me wonder how close my little camera could come to getting wonderful photos like the ones you always take.
Very nice avian collection. The cockfight between robins was particularly nifty. Good stuff. :)
Great bird pictures, the ducks and robins especially. The first one of the red-winged balckbird is stunning; a male not a female I think.
Gulls are beautiful, except when they are trying to steal the food right off of your plate (yes, i've had them try that).
Catching them fighting in flight was fabulous, thank you.
Good to see spring is flying your way. It's such an interesting time to watch the interaction of the birds as they start the mating and nesting process. Great still and actions shots from woman with camera :)
It very spring-like here. Your pics are amazing as always but I did laugh when I saw the robins fighting..at first I thought you might have caught them in "private" moment! Hahah! Congrats to the winner of that love spat!
OH my goodness! These are truly wonderful, kind of a treasure to see those in stop motion.
These pictures are so gorgeous. in love all the action you have captured.
Really like your mallard pictures as they fly on the water. Our crows came two days ago. We still don't have seagulls but they'll be here any minute.
We love to hear the blackbirds singing in Spring too Hilary. I think they have a joyful song and I don't hear them repeat a song after they sing it about four times. - Dave
all the birds are having territorial issues. and what is the territory you might ask? girls.
Great photos--I haven't seen a redwing blackbird yet, but told they're around.
Our Robins arrived early last week and our Red Winged Blackbirds are much a no show at the feeders...take good care of them and send them back to us when the weather turns cold
hugs
Sandi
Thank you for these wonderful bird pictures. We don't have any singing yet. I can't wait.
The birds certainly mark Spring with a flurry of activity.
And love the face-off.
Oh! Wonderful action shots of the mallards and robins! Spring is in the air! :)
My weekend walk was for the birds ... and if you've likely never played Angry Birds but there's a bird (actually 2) that look just like those two robins .. you hurl them and then fly beak over tail across the screen ...
If your robins are anything like the European robin I can tell you that they fight to the death (literally) for territory. They are just gorgeous little creatures, their song is liquid gold, yet they are totally bloodthirsty.
Gorgeous photos.
truly, i am always amazed by the photos you capture of birds in flight, this time even in fight!
much as the birds are a wonderful sign of spring the one that cheers me most is the evening song of the spring peepers (tree frogs) in our area.
Those are fantastic shots of the birds in flight, Hilary. Wow!
I think the robins were mating, don't you? I love the shot of the duck going into the water, awesome!
Wow, so much for peaceful spring! Great shots! I captured some red-winged blackbirds this past weekend, too!
Very fun Spring post, Hilary. And that gull-- So gorgeous and graceful.
xo jj
Woman! Criminy! Your shots are so much eye candy my pupils are almost too fat to fit inside my eye lids now. I do so adore shots of birds in flight, and especially shots of something other than the classic majestic soaring and/or sweet fluttering. You've captured the mechanics of flight, and that's truly something special. Those gulls looking all the world like lens clouds - that's a posture I've never seen captured before. Brilliant. Loved it. All of it. And me too - I get so giddy when the red winged black birds come back. We've seen our first geese now, so let the countdown begin!
Glad to find someone else who enjoys gulls. Some folk around these parts consider them the equivalent of winged rats, but I've always thought they were graceful.
Thanks for the aerial show Hilary.
We have been spoiled with early warm weather here--I hope the surprise frost does not spoil things.
Love your life captures Hilary. the action shots are supurb. The birds around here are going at it full tilt too. Mourning Doves want to build a nest over our front door eves, and a pair of sparrows want their nest in our patio eves as well. Its funny, every yer they try to nest in the same spots but never complete the nests.
Love Spring and love your pictures.
Brilliant birds flying photos, thanks Hilary.
Is it too late for you to change the name of your blog to "Robin Squabble"? Those pix are terrific--so fun to look at the birds reclaiming their space!
Amazing action shots! Hilary, you are amazing. I would love to be able to watch you at work to learn a thing or two. Those birds making a getaway are astounding.
Love all your birds in flight. There is lots of fighting going on as well in my backyard ... most of it is over placement at the bird feeder!
Today was just sparkling with spring effervescence. Ok, so maybe I'm not missing winter too much any longer. The ducks are funny. I'm always amazed by the moments you capture, Hilary. You must be SO patient. :)
Spring is sprung,
The grass is riz,
I wonder where the birdies is,
Here comes one,
Flying high,
Dropped a turd,
Right in my eye,
Aren't you glad,
That cows can't fly?
Lovely collection of photos Hilary.
Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. They're so appreciated. :)
How cool! I especially love that first photo of the gull in flight...you've captured it perfectly. I've been watching the birds from my kitchen window, too. I could stand there for hours.
Those are some amazing bird shots. I especially love the ducks whipping up the water.
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