(no subject)
I just want to say: "Waterproof Sunblock" is misnamed on both counts.
I went out to the Palo Alto Baylands today. The egrets are finally there and building nests -- a bit later than the past 3 years. Many of the night heron babies are already flying, although a few were still in the nest. I thought there were fewer egrets this year until I took a look further around the bird sanctuary. They're just more spread out than in years past: they've occupied just about every available tree. And the night herons are similarly spreading out. A few snowy egrets and cattle egrets also moved out further and nested in trees with the herons.
The Ring Necked Pheasants weren't out today - but I heard a few of the males crowing (sounds almost exactly like rusty brakes). They're probably nesting at this point - hopefully that means chicks and more photo opportunities in the near future. Also, I found one of the (well fed) gopher snakes in the field across from the visitor center - but it was hiding from some blackbirds who objected to its presence near their nests.
A bird watcher told me about some baby American Avocets. I found 2 adults watching over 3 little brown cotton balls with legs. The babies were wandering over one of the shallower marsh pools, picking up insects. The kids didn't seem to mind my presence, but the adults didn't want to get too close. The adults will react to seagulls or black neck stilts getting too close - they take off and use their long beak as a weapon! I really wanted a family shot, but the insects moved away from the adult birds, and the kids wandered over to where the insects were. With some persistence, I did manage a few pictures of the kids with one adult or the other.
Also, the kids got pretty close to me (I kept telling the parents to call them back, but they didn't listen) - so I got some good closeup shots of the baby birds.
I went out to the Palo Alto Baylands today. The egrets are finally there and building nests -- a bit later than the past 3 years. Many of the night heron babies are already flying, although a few were still in the nest. I thought there were fewer egrets this year until I took a look further around the bird sanctuary. They're just more spread out than in years past: they've occupied just about every available tree. And the night herons are similarly spreading out. A few snowy egrets and cattle egrets also moved out further and nested in trees with the herons.
The Ring Necked Pheasants weren't out today - but I heard a few of the males crowing (sounds almost exactly like rusty brakes). They're probably nesting at this point - hopefully that means chicks and more photo opportunities in the near future. Also, I found one of the (well fed) gopher snakes in the field across from the visitor center - but it was hiding from some blackbirds who objected to its presence near their nests.
A bird watcher told me about some baby American Avocets. I found 2 adults watching over 3 little brown cotton balls with legs. The babies were wandering over one of the shallower marsh pools, picking up insects. The kids didn't seem to mind my presence, but the adults didn't want to get too close. The adults will react to seagulls or black neck stilts getting too close - they take off and use their long beak as a weapon! I really wanted a family shot, but the insects moved away from the adult birds, and the kids wandered over to where the insects were. With some persistence, I did manage a few pictures of the kids with one adult or the other.
Also, the kids got pretty close to me (I kept telling the parents to call them back, but they didn't listen) - so I got some good closeup shots of the baby birds.