Welcome Back, the Blue Sky

This weekend the blue sky returned.   I decided to go out for a short walk.  On the way, I found House Finches singing and even purple crocuses already in bloom at someone's front yard.

Western Scrub-Jays:  "Welcome back, blue sky."

This week every morning, I saw Canada Geese in a huge flock of a hundred or more darting this way and that way, trying to find a prospective feeding ground.

"The other foggy day we were about to get lost. 
Today the coast is clear."

Up in the sky, to my astonishment, four Bald Eagles were soaring in a big circle.  (Couldn't take a good photo of four together, covering so much distance.)

 

  "The warm sun is always welcome."

 

 

 

 

 

Bird Friends at a Nearby Wetland

For a few months, we had not been to the wetland due to chilly weather.  But on Friday, the sky showed a little blue around noon and we decided to revisit there.

A muddy trail...  We had to walk on the weedy side to avoid the mud. 


Up in the sky, a lone Canada Goose was about to land nearby.

"I'm gonna land on my favorite spot right behind the new picnic area."

 

 

 

On a pond in front, a duck was shoveling weedy food out of the pond bottom.

 "Look at my bill.  Doesn't it look like a shovel?  Efficient digging is my trait.  That's why I am called a Northern Shoveler."


On the other side of the pond, other ducks are ready to take off.

"Run, run, run on the water.... F-A-S-T."

Staring motionless,  a matured Great Blue Heron was standing in the weeds at the edge of a pond for 30 minutes or even longer....

"I'm just looking and listening to whatever is going on around here, like an sentinel."

A Flock of Canada Geese with a Stranger

Here in the Pacific Flyway Zone, a flock of Canada Geese flying southward is a common sight in the Fall sky. 

 

But this time when you look close at this flock, do you find something odd?

Someone different among them?

Someone with a light-colored head and feet!  Who? 

Judging from the wingspan, the head, and the feet, it must be a "Greater White-fronted Goose."  It is so unexpected, but so delightful to discover the Canada Geese are tolerant with one another's differences. 

Bird Friends from a Wetland

In Oregon there are many wildlife refuges.  There is one wetland near my home.  Last Sunday, on Mother's Day, I revisited there the first time since last fall.

Canadian Geese:  "We haven't seen you for months.  How have you been?  We have goslings."

Then,  all of a sudden, noise and commotion.  What's going on?!@#  Well, that was a demonstration flight a couple of male geese just wanted to show.

"How was my taking off,  young men.  Next time it'll be your turn!"

Down the trail, I saw baby geese walking with their Mommy.

"Today is warm and we have to learn how to find food."

In the grass area next to the swamp, many tree swallow nest boxes have been placed.  Tree swallows were flying in and out of them.

"Hi, I've been watching you.  You seem to be gentle folks.  But that huge black eye (camera)!  That is the only strange thing about you."

Lesser Goldfinches:  "I might have seen you somewhere, but this is my home.  I like these grass seeds."


Farther down, beyond the swamps, a lone Bold Eagle perched on the tree. Last fall I have seen several of them up on another tall tree with their chins down taking a nap. This time, he was wide awake, but showing me his back.

But then after I returned home, I looked up the sky and there he was soaring up high.

Not just one, but together with another one.

That sure was a happy, delightful Mother's Day.