Thursday, March 20, 2014

A Long Way From the Sea




I heard that Daniel Boone was once asked if he had ever been lost.  "No Sir" he said, "but I was a mite confused once for a month or two".  The sea gulls I saw at Fontenelle Forest this morning (March 15) appeared to be a "mite confused" - they were over 1000 miles from the nearest ocean.  Closer observation revealed that they were Ring-billed Gulls migrating from the Gulf of Mexico to many northern inland locations.

The wetlands have thawed enough to attract migrating waterfowl.  These two Canada geese were perched in the trunk of a tree that was 25 feet off the ground.  I don't know if they were the same couple that nested there last year.  It may be a safe place to build a nest but the first step out will be a problem for their goslings.  

Several migrating American Goldfinches have arrived for the summer.  This male is still wearing its winter plumage.  In a few weeks, it will change to its golden yellow feathers.

 I enjoy photographing American Tree Sparrows because they are such a challenge.  This one was on a constant move in a tangled mess of brush.   Notice how similar its colors are to its habitat.  The Spot Focus on my Canon camera usually wanted to focus on a branch instead of a sparrow. 

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