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Friday, March 31, 2017

Snow Geese

On a hunt to find some shore birds that had been seen this winter along Bow-Edison road we came upon, instead, the biggest flock of Snow Geese we had seen this winter  Because of the freezing weather there was not as much soft ground for the Snow  Geese to feed on so the huge flocks split up and even moved farther south when the exceptionally large flocks of Trumpeter Swans took over the fields.
 We were excited to see them in this location - which was not their regular feeding ground most years.
 The flock was estimated at 30,000  Snow Geese
 One goose in particular caught our eye - the dark on in the middle of the photo.  It is a Blue Goose, or Dark Morph Snow Goose - this is the first year we've ever seen one.
 The flock was never still - with birds taking off and landing constantly - chattering all the time.
 And new flocks began arriving - landing at the end of the flock nearest us - giving us the perfect view.

 Never landing on another bird - they would settle in and begin feeding immediately.
 Landing and taking off
 Then, as if by signal, the flock began lifting off the field

 Swirling into the sky


Just a few left on the ground
 And then they were all in the air

 Heading off to the bay for a safe night's sleep



 And into the sunset

 We sat, stunned by what we had seen and heard, and stunned by the vast silence.


Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Favorites in Spring

It is spring - the Skunk Cabbage is in "bloom" - one of my favorite spring things.
 Growing up in Southeast Alaska, where there are no skunks (you can even be fined for bringing one into Alaska), I did not know that the scent of the Skunk Cabbage was supposed to be offensive - and so I have always loved it when the first Skunk Cabbage come out in the swampy areas.

And along came a female Bufflehead Duck - that has to be my favorite duck name.

 Lots of ducks on the pond - Mallards and Bufflehead

 Lots of skunk cabbage in the boggy areas




 Ring Neck Ducks

Juvenile Common Merganser
And Common Mergansers - taking a snooze seems to be their springtime favorite.
 Canada Geese
What are your favorite signs of spring? 

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Fly Away 2

The Trumpeter Swans have been very cooperative this year - giving me plenty of opportunities to catch them stretching their wings.


 Take off!!!!


 Landing - and they never land on top of each other.
 Settling in.



 Away we go!