Winter Ducks

Ducks in ponds and ducks on a lake.

 Ring Necked ducks - diving and making bubbles on the surface of the pond.

 These all popped up at once.  It is sometimes difficult to catch a diving duck on the surface.

 And a flock swimming - at quite an amazing speed on a lake.

 I had to aim ahead of them so I could get them in the photo.

Bald Eagles

We have hundreds of Bald Eagles nesting in our area this time of year.  It is a good time to find them sitting atop something, looking for food for them and their eaglets in the nest. 

 Often they will sit above a flock of Snow Geese or flocks of ducks in the seasonal ponds or rivers. 

 

 Or they sit on the top of trees, bending the branches down with their weight, which can vary from 6 1/2 pounds up to 14 pounds, the females are the largest and heaviest.

  

 They sit in the twiggy trees along the river dikes - just waiting and waiting - they are the most patient of birds.

 The sight of a bent evergreen (when there is no eagle perched on it) is a sign that eagles use that tree for viewing their kingdom. 

 Sitting tall on the very top of an Alder tree.

 And once in a great while we see an eagle on the ground - we try not to get too close so it won't be frightened away. 

 Getting a drink from the puddle.

Rain and Sunshine

Some days we have rain here in the Pacific Northwest (NW Washington State)

 With sparkly drips on the bare branches, waiting for spring

 And evergreens dripping everywhere.

 And some days we have sunshine - to show off the catkins on the wild hazelnut trees

And some days we have fancy clouds.  How is the weather in your area?

Pintail Ducks

One of our more plentiful migrating ducks are the Pintails.  They come in huge flocks and stay all winter.

 They fill the bays and lakes - and even the seasonal ponds on farm fields, formed by the heavy rains in our area.

 A motorcycle roared by and frightened them into flight.

 Settling down again.

 They are such pretty ducks - and have a lovely whistley call that can be heard from quite a ways off.

 Walking about in the pond formed on an old corn field.

 Searching for something good to eat.

What kind of migrating birds do you have in your area?

The Hummingbirds Are Back

After a couple weeks of no hummingbird feeder I finally got it cleaned and refilled and rehung.  The storms had blown everything over, but it is up and ready for the little birds.  It only took a few hours before one or two of our overwintering hummingbirds were at the feeder.

 Sitting on the hook that holds the feeder - you can see a bit of the rain in the background and on the feathers.

 This is the most color I've been able to capture in the winter - so shiny and bright on such a gloomy day.

Do you have overwintering hummingbirds?