Feathered Friends

You're just in time to join me for a stroll around the pond. Keep your eyes open and be prepared to be still from time to time. We're going bird watching.

The grackle has beautiful colouring which can appear quite differently...

in different lighting...

or low lighting.

This mallard finds it all very amusing. He's quacking up.

Here's a rare sight around here. We see lots of them around the more urban parts of the city, but rarely do I see a pigeon in my little suburban neck of the woods. This one has been tagged with a ring on its leg.

It's always a treat to see the young goslings or ducklings appear on the pond. This small family seems to be ailing though. Only one parent and two goslings. I'm thinking coyotes.

Another great treat is when the herons return. We're very lucky to have frequent visits from Night Herons, Green Herons and this beauty, the Great Blue Heron. He was fishing right along the shoreline, just down the slope from the path.

He was successful in catching a fish, but I wasn't successful in catching that with my camera. Mr. Blue glanced up at me, and allowed me to snap one more shot before he took off to hunt elsewhere. He totally made my day.

I hope you enjoyed these encounters with our feathered friends.

I'm still away from home for a couple of days. I hope to get back to my more regular visits shortly after that. I hope so.. I've run out of scheduled posts. ;)