February 27, 2014
Icy Chambers
These Canada geese were lounging in their icy chambers when I photographed them. These are some tough birds, I can tell you!
February 23, 2014
The Kindly Pelican
I had the good luck to see a pelican landing on the water yesterday, coming straight at me. I took this photo, which made me laugh later when I saw it at home on my computer.
The first thing I thought of was how the smaller waterfowl in front of the pelican do not seem at all concerned that this huge bird is landing so near them. They have not turned away from him in fright. They know they are in no danger.
The second thing I thought of was that - with his wings up like that - he looked like a clergyman giving a blessing to his little flock: "Bless you, my children...".
Note the little fellow on the left who seems to be mimicking the pelican. Too funny.
The first thing I thought of was how the smaller waterfowl in front of the pelican do not seem at all concerned that this huge bird is landing so near them. They have not turned away from him in fright. They know they are in no danger.
The second thing I thought of was that - with his wings up like that - he looked like a clergyman giving a blessing to his little flock: "Bless you, my children...".
Note the little fellow on the left who seems to be mimicking the pelican. Too funny.
February 21, 2014
Goldeneye
The duck on the left - with the white patch on its cheek?
That, my friends, is a Common Goldeneye - my first! And it is a male.
The females are brown-headed, have darker bodies, and don't have the white patch on their face. In fact, I am pretty sure that is a female on the right, in the foreground.
As for the fellow in the back, I can't make a positive ID on him. He has a different color scheme (note the black chest that runs down to the water line with no white on his neck) and is bigger than the other two. I'm guessing he is a canvas back.
That, my friends, is a Common Goldeneye - my first! And it is a male.
The females are brown-headed, have darker bodies, and don't have the white patch on their face. In fact, I am pretty sure that is a female on the right, in the foreground.
As for the fellow in the back, I can't make a positive ID on him. He has a different color scheme (note the black chest that runs down to the water line with no white on his neck) and is bigger than the other two. I'm guessing he is a canvas back.
February 19, 2014
Dried Fruit
One way to dry your fruit is to leave it hanging in the tree all winter and to simply pluck it from the branch in the moment of hunger. That is the practice adopted by this black squirrel.
Madame Squirrel, in her lovely fur coat, came to this crab apple tree for a mid-winter snack. It was, no doubt, quite tart but filled with plenty of Vitamin C.
I love how you can see the shriveled apple in the tiny paws of this avid forager.
Madame Squirrel, in her lovely fur coat, came to this crab apple tree for a mid-winter snack. It was, no doubt, quite tart but filled with plenty of Vitamin C.
I love how you can see the shriveled apple in the tiny paws of this avid forager.
February 18, 2014
Fishing Platform
There are eagles all up and down the Mississippi right now, in my area, but one place to see them by the score is at Lock & Dam 14. They tend to congregate in two trees at the tip of a point of land. This is their fishing platform:
There were over two dozen perched there when I visited the lock Saturday. Some eating, some digesting, and some looking sharp-eyed into the water, waiting for the next good fish.
There were over two dozen perched there when I visited the lock Saturday. Some eating, some digesting, and some looking sharp-eyed into the water, waiting for the next good fish.
February 17, 2014
Eagle Above Me
I went to the river Saturday, looking for eagles. They were everywhere, but so were lots of people. I took a few shots, but the wind blowing off the river made my fingers ache with cold. I took shelter in my car and decided to try another spot. Bingo! I found a little place that I had all to myself.
When I got out of the car, the wind was blowing the snow at a forty-five degree angle, and it was cold! I hiked along the shore and took shelter behind a big tree. I could see eagles in the distance and could hear the snow hitting all the trees around me, making little ticking sounds. I got as close to the frozen shoreline as I could, and as far out from under the trees as I dared. I sat on a downed tree and waited.
Suddenly, a kettle of eagles was circling above me - mostly juveniles. I knew their eyes must be searching for fish in the open water and I marveled at their toughness to live in such conditions. Then, one eagle flew right above me.
When I got home, I was excited to zoom in on this eagle and see the finer details of his eyes and beak, the nicks in his wing feathers, his whitening feathers, and his talons.
It was a short few minutes before the freezing temperatures again drove me to the warmth of my car, but it was long enough to lift my soul.
When I got out of the car, the wind was blowing the snow at a forty-five degree angle, and it was cold! I hiked along the shore and took shelter behind a big tree. I could see eagles in the distance and could hear the snow hitting all the trees around me, making little ticking sounds. I got as close to the frozen shoreline as I could, and as far out from under the trees as I dared. I sat on a downed tree and waited.
Suddenly, a kettle of eagles was circling above me - mostly juveniles. I knew their eyes must be searching for fish in the open water and I marveled at their toughness to live in such conditions. Then, one eagle flew right above me.
 |
| This was taken with my camera pointed straight up! |
When I got home, I was excited to zoom in on this eagle and see the finer details of his eyes and beak, the nicks in his wing feathers, his whitening feathers, and his talons.
It was a short few minutes before the freezing temperatures again drove me to the warmth of my car, but it was long enough to lift my soul.
February 15, 2014
250th Post Celebration Contest
Let's have a little fun! In honor of my 250th blog post (see last post), I am giving away a free canvas and magnets.
How do you win one of these fabulous prizes? Take the multiple choice quiz below and send your answers privately to sloughsleuth@gmail.com . (Please do not post them in them in the comments on this page!)
The person with the highest score gets the canvas, and the runner up gets the magnets - your choices of photos from this blog. If there is more than one person with the top score, the winners will be chosen randomly by drawing names out of a hat.
So, read on and send me your answers, and thank you for visiting my blog! The contest closes March 1, 2014.
1. What kind of bird is pictured above?
A. Blue-footed Booby
B. Magpie
C. Song Sparrow
D. Bobwhite Quail
2. White kind of tree is pictured above? (Note the thorns.)
A. Honey Locust
B. Aspen
C. Walnut
D. Oak
3. What kind of fish is pictured above?
A. Minnow
B. Sturgeon
C. Rainbow Trout
D. Swordfish
4. What insect is pictured above?
A. Monarch Butterfly
B. Grasshopper
C. Dragonfly
D. Staghorn Beetle
5. What plant is pictured above?
A. Jack in the Pulpit
B. Wild Rose
C. Wild Raspberry
D. Pomegranate
6. What kind of bird is pictured above?
A. Pelican
B. Killdeer
C. Red-winged Blackbird
D. Grackle
7. What is the plant seed pictured above?
A. Acorn
B. Hazelnut
C. Milkweed Pod
D. Pumpkin Seed
8. What animal's tail is pictured above?
A. Raccoon
B. Squirrel
C. Muskrat
D. Prairie Dog
9. What kind of plant is pictured above?
A. Fern
B. Wild Raspberry
C. Poison Ivy
D. Common Reed
10. What kind of birds are pictured above?
A. Cedar Waxwings
B. Red-tailed Hawks
C. Tundra Swans
D. Starling
Bonus question for extra credit! What kind of plan is pictures above?
A. Dandelion
B. Crab Grass
C. Sedge
D. Rush
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)