Environment:
Start Time: 7:15 AM Temperature: 54 degrees Sky: Sunshine thin clouds with a light breeze
Excellent weather continues. The trees were filled with bird chatter and the Starlings were flitting all over the place but really there was not much bird activity this morning. I did come home with some interesting pictures despite the avian drought. First off I surprised a mother Wood Duck who was giving duck lessons to her brood of nine and so managed the photo posted below. The Arkansas River was running very high today so I found this group in a calmer drainage tributary leading into the river. First ducklings I have seen this year. After that there was a long stretch of not much happening until I came upon an active conflict between two male Mallards – today’s featured image (above). These two were obviously discussing who had access to the poor female (in the photo foreground) who was not real pleased with the attention. I’m not exactly sure of the outcome because they took the fight downriver. Shortly thereafter I saw (and photographed) what turned out to be an American Yellow Warbler – a new bird for me!
Sightings:
Birds: Canada Geese, Osprey, Starlings, Cormorants, Swallows, Western Kingbirds, Bullock’s Oriole, Mourning Doves, Mallards, American Yellow Warbler, Wood Ducks, Robins, Northern Flicker, Red-tailed Hawk, House Wren
Critters: Prairie Dogs, Lizard, Squirrel
Gear: Nikon D5600, 55-300mm
