Long-tailed & Kinglet

After getting the car serviced this morning, I headed out to Reifel this afternoon. Birds of note from speaking to fellow birders on my arrival were a Shrike, Redhead and Long-tailed Ducks. As the Shrike was in the outside marshes, I decided to try the ponds for the ducks.

Long-tailed Duck
Long-tailed Duck

I found the female Long-tailed Duck in one of the main inside ponds.

Long-tailed Duck
Long-tailed Duck

This diving duck is usually seen in the ocean,

Long-tailed Duck
Long-tailed Duck

… but will occasionally show up on the inside ponds at the sanctuary.

Not having any luck locating the Redhead, I shifted to the trails. Nothing out of the ordinary, but I did start following a group of Kinglets mixed in with some Chickadees. They were busy foraging for insects in the conifers. The challenge trying to photograph Kinglets is their tiny size and the fact they are constantly on the move amongst the branches. Every once in a while though,

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet

… you luck out and get one that pauses ever so briefly out in the open.

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.