Sunday, May 1, 2011

Lobsters are for the birds

The Common Loons, all 22 of them were feasting on Rocky Mountain lobster - crayfish, crawdads, whatever you want to call them.  They were so fun to watch them with their lunch.  Common Loons are not so common here, but right now they are migrating through and they are a sight to see and their mournful cry that we usually only here in mountain lakes around Yellowstone Park.



Saturday was one of those birding days you dream about - start early, end late and during the middle of the day you mow the lawn with snow hiding under the bushes and trees.  Maybe not mowing the lawn with snow falling - but it needed to be done.  But the birding on both ends of the day was superb.  With 56 species indentified and some pictured for the first time.  But the day started out visiting the birds that got me into birding - the Greater Sage grouse.  These  eight pound birds trying to attract the ladies.  Here one puffs out his chest just as the sun came up.


One of the special birds was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that I photographed for the first time.  What a beautiful bird that flitters through the willows, making it difficult for me to catch.


One of the spring birds I love to watch are the beautiful Eared Grebes.  There are about 30 on one pond where I have set up my blind. They are a lot of fun.


What a great day as I spent over eight hours out in the wilds of Idaho.

13 comments:

Kah-Wai Lin said...

The kinglet is beautiful!

Kelly said...

Wow...what a birding day! I've never seen a Greater Sage grouse (the previous post is amazing too). I saw a little Ruby-crowned Kinglet this weekend too! Cool shot of the loon with his dinner!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

From the wee Kinglet, are they not the cutest...to the 8 pound Grouse, all are superb and sounds like you had a grand birding day!

Sharon M said...

A great day, indeed!

DaveABirding said...

Sounds like a fun day indeed. Well captured shots.

Monts said...

What a fantastic day you had Bill and 56 species to boot, love the kinglet,and we get the Loons or Great Northern Divers as we call them over wintering around the coast here and we Don't get to see them in breeding plummage. Also get Black Throated and Red Throated Divers as well. The Eared Grebe looks to be what we call Slavonian Grebe. And for the past three winters we have had a Pacific Diver over wintering.

caite said...

wow, that Greater Sage grouse is something.

Esther Garvi said...

What a fantastic day indeed! With great photo captures too!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Beautiful pictures Bill. I love that you can get such good pictures of the shy little fellows like the Kinglet and that you're as proud of them as you are of the more showy ones. I would be too!

(No birds for me at all this week :<(

eileeninmd said...

Bill, you had a great birding day. I love all the birds and photos. The Grouse is a really cool sighting. Wonderful photos.

Lois Evensen said...

What terrific images! :)

Veronica Wald said...

Wow, I love the Loon shot!!

Janie said...

Great bird captures. I've never seen a loon eat a lobster. Very cool.