Daybreak at Deaver Reservoir had shorebirds either skittering around or hunkered down in a feathery puffball if it was still too chilly. Walking the shoreline they did their best to stay ten or fifteen feet ahead of us at all times. The constant movement made it somewhat difficult to catch a good shot. Their little feet move so fast!
Sometimes you’d get that one who just wanted to be sure that you
saw their ‘good’ side.
Others mostly went on about their business while always keeping an eye out.
The American Avocet ensured just enough distance to
challenge the zoom on our point and click.
Baird’s Sandpiper - we think.
Identification can be a challenge. We think this is a Yellowlegs. Seriously, that’s
a real name. But is it the Greater or Lesser? We say Lesser.
Catching the birds in flight was an extra special challenge.
If we were lucky, they’d fly right into the shot!
Single and somewhat erratic fliers are hard to track.
Nicole snagged one good shot just above the water.
Groups were a little bit easier to follow but the poor camera just didn’t know
where to direct its focus!
to leave the van to see and photograph the birds.
Neither the view nor the shot however were always free and clear of obstacles.
It did permit us to watch them without disturbing and that was really cool
because many (like these Mallards) seemed to spook easily.
One afternoon a Gull swooped down into the water just outside our window.
It looked as if it had dropped something so we kept watching. This is what we
saw through the ‘obstacles’.
He had snagged himself a crawdad. See it to his left?
He spent about five minutes picking it up, pecking at it, throwing it down and
watching it like a cat does when ‘playing with’ a mouse.
He’d chomp on it which appeared to crack the shell (innards were exposed).
At one point he seemed to tire of the effort and tried to swallow the whole thing.
A few seconds later... up it came!
It was back to more beatings for the unwilling participant before success was achieved.
And now... because we can and because bunnies are just so darn cute...
Who me? I’m just sitting here.
No thanks, I’m just looking around.
Maybe I can finish it before they notice.
Ouch! I think I got a thorn.
Prepare yourselves. Something big is coming.
Ah... Ah... Ahhhhh....
CHOOOOO!!!!
Don’t lie. You know you enjoyed that.
Seriously, you did. Now stop laughing at my milk mustache!
We’re outta here!
