A Little Yellow On A Gloomy Day

Back at Reifel today to help out again on the last day of the Easter long weekend. Needless to say with the weather, it was a little quieter. No where near the crowds of the sunny Saturday. In spite of the damp, the nesting birds persevere.

Canada Goose Nest
Canada Goose Nest
Sandhill Crane Nest
Sandhill Crane Nest

Despite the showers on a gloomy afternoon, not all was lost. There were some Yellow-rumped Warblers moving around the inner trails. A couple of them actually cooperated for photo opportunities.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon`s)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon`s)

An Audoban’s,

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

… and this Myrtle. Always nice to get both types of the Yellow-rumped Warbler that we will see in this area. And the bonus bird to pop up an pose while watching the warblers,

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet

… was this Golden-crowned Kinglet.

A Reifel Day

With the Easter long weekend, some decent weather forecast, the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary can get pretty busy. Volunteers to help out on the trails were scheduled ahead of time and my turn was for this afternoon. Rather than risking getting tied up somewhere else in the morning, I went out to Reifel first thing. The plan being to try for some more shots of the Sandhill Crane nest with the morning light and before it got too busy.

Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane

One adult was on the nest basking in the morning sun.

Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane

The second egg arrived on Monday the 18th.

Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane

The pair cooperated with a changing of the guard while I was there allowing for this shot of them together at the nesting site with the two eggs. Most of my day was spent here talking with visitors, answering questions and letting them get a closer look through the camera.

On a break from the Cranes I came across some nesting activity of a much smaller bird.

Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee

This Black-capped Chickadee,

Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee

… busy working on a nesting cavity. It was a great day to be out and enjoying spring.

Osprey

When I checked last week the old nest site was still dormant. This particular pair was not successful in raising any young last year, but have been in previous seasons. Today the Osprey were back and active around the nest.

Osprey
Osprey

After I arrived it was the female who showed up first.

Osprey
Osprey

Then the male flew in and there was some mating behaviour.

Osprey
Osprey

After which the pair posed nicely together with the female calling. Then it was back to work refurbishing the nest.

Osprey
Osprey

Unfortunately for the female,

Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey

… the male lands on her with a fairly large branch.

Osprey
Osprey

He did make amends several minutes later bringing her a fish.