(or numbers 10 – 13)
My Year List is growing, have you noticed? On Sunday, we went to my mother-in-law’s for dinner as usual. I hadn’t taken my daily walk yet and so after we pulled her in her driveway, I grabbed my camera and headed off. My husband scoffed at my walk with a camera. Okay, it is a short walk to the ponds and I would be stopping and snapping shots a lot but still I walked and he didn’t. So there.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to find much although the ponds were my MIL lives are usually a winter birding haven. They have been mucking with the ponds, however, and I hadn’t seen many birds there as we’d drive by. What I learned is that there is a reason we don’t bird from cars while driving, though. Did you know that? It was news to me.
I had spotted the Snowy Egret as we drove by and that was what lured me to walk back there. Not much prettier in this world than a Snowy Egret. So, I walked back and was so glad I did. And not just because I got to add the Mallards that were keeping him (her?) company. As I snapped shot after gorgeous shot of the Egret, I heard a weird rattling, laughing call that totally drew my attention. Startled the Egret too; it very nearly flew off. Imagine my surprise as a Belted Kingfisher cruised in over the pond and landed across the pond from me, posing for shots.
As the battery warning light on my camera flashed red, I decided to walk up to the upper pond and see what was up there. The Kingfisher followed me up — they are like that, friendly, cooperative birds (cough, cough). There were more fun birds up there. A pair of Double-crested Cormorants were floating around the pond while a Black-crowned Night Heron lurked on the opposite shore. What fun!
On the way back to my MIL’s, I heard such a noisy bird in a tree over my head. It was brazen and bold and raspy. I thought it must be a chickadee but I could see nothing in the tree, despite it’s being completely bare of leaves. So, I stopped and really looked. Two Anna’s Hummingbirds were sitting on branches at the tippy top making so much noise.
This is my Sky Watch submission. A crisp, clear winter sky at nearly dusk.
A great Sunday walk.
For more bird-filled skies in your Friday, visit Sky Watch Friday!