Environment:
Start Time: 7:55 AM Temperature: 32 degrees Sky: Sunshine.
A truly beautiful morning greeted me as I arrived at my normal parking spot by the Anticline Fishing Pond. The freezing temperature was nicely mitigated by the radiant heat from the Sun. Most of the birding action was to be had in or around bodies of water. Featured is a male Belted Kingfisher making a stab at the Arkansas River. The only shot I got of his entrance into the water was a splash. I could not tell if the dive was successful or not. Also on the Arkansas River were the pair of Hooded Mergansers pictured here. They are a good sign that the Winter ducks are on their way. I’m anxious to see some Coots and Teals. I only saw one Great Blue Heron who was standing quite still on the bank of the fishing pond.
Sightings:
Birds: Hooded Mergansers, Gadwalls, Common Goldeneye, Mallards, Canada Geese, Gulls, Starlings, Sparrow, Northern Flicker,Wild Turkeys, Belted Kingfishers, Killdeer, White-crowned Sparrows
Critters: Mule Deer, Prairie Dogs
Gear: OM System OM-1 Mark II, Lumix 100-400mm; Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight
