The Calm Before the Storm

I postponed my visit Fontenelle Forest this morning to avoid the rain and mud so I'll never know what opportunities that I missed before noon.   My afternoon  visit was amazing. 

I had barely stepped out of the parking lot before I spotted a Swainson's Thrush.  I didn't even have my camera out so I had to stop to take it out of my backpack and assemble it.  Amazingly, the Thrush patiently waited.

Just past the  Thrush was a pool of rainwater with a bathing sparrow.  I took a couple of shots and the sparrow was replaced by an American Redstart.  A Rose-breasted Grosbeak couple were frolicking out of camera range another 20 yards down the trail.   In less than 100 yards,  I saw three birds for the first time this year.

As I turned onto the Stream trail, I encountered a young lady and her dog.  Apparently she missed the sign that said dogs were not allowed.  So much for stealth on my part, the dog was flushing everything in sight.

While I waited for things to settle back down, I observed my first Kingbird of the year.  I also saw a muskrat with a mouth full of grass swimming back to its home.

I didn't see a single Green-backed Heron in the forest last year.  Today was the day.  I'm always amazed at how different the same bird can look.  Compare these two views of the same bird.

The weather started to turn while I photographed the gaggle of goslings.

A Yellow Warbler played hide and seek with my lens.  Unfortunately the winds became strong and dark clouds were bringing rain.   The dead trees from the 2011 flood are a real hazard when the wind blows so I need to return to a safe and dry place. 

A Gaggle of Goslings

The highlight of my Fontenelle Forest visit was watching several Canadian Geese and their goslings.  They were nibbling on the tender shoots of new grass.  The  proud parents were cautious but willing to show off their brood to me.

I had another opportunity to photograph a Yellow Warbler today.

The Common Yellowthroat Warbler nests in Fontenelle Forest.  This is the first one that I've seen this year.

The Yellow Rumped Warbler was moving from log to log near the stream.

This Northern Waterthrush was hunting for bugs in and near the water.

This Lesser Yellowlegs looks like it is standing on a giant toadstool  It is actually a stump that accumulated debris in the 2011 flood.  The Fontenelle Forest wetlands are still recovering from the flood.  In some places 90% of the trees are dead.

Before the flood, mink lived along the stream.  They were rarely seen.  Their habitat was completely flooded for months and I was afraid they was gone for good.  This morning, I spotted one again.  I wasn't able to get a photo.  When I do, that will be the highlight of another visit.

April Showers Bring May Snow?

Fontenelle Forest was treated to an unusually late snowfall.    At least 2 inches fell, but the ground was warm enough to melt most of it overnight.

 

A pair of Blue-Winged Teal take flight as I approach.

 

A little Yellow Warbler was hopping from branch to branch looking for bugs.

 

A Lincoln's Sparrow watches me pass.

 

This Lesser Yellowlegs scurried off to a safer spot up the stream.

 

The late snow appears to have caused little damage.  If the tree leaves had been a little farther along it would have been different.  The snow was very wet and heavy.  Trees with larger leaves  would have been bent and broken.

Conditions were slick and muddy today.  I exercised caution and used a 400mm lens instead of the much heavier 800mm I normally use.  As a result, I had to decrease the distance to my subjects by several feet. 

The Warblers Have Arrived!

Fontenelle Forest has been listed as one of the top ten places to view warblers in the United States.

A Yellow-rumped warbler (Myrtle)  is wondering what I'm doing with that big camera.

A single tree is blossoming by the stream.  This Baltimore Oriole uses the blossoms to enhance his beauty.

Not to be undone, an Orchard Oriole poses among the blossoms.

Some White-throated Sparrows have brighter colors than others.  Compare this one with the photo below to see the variation.

Two Canadian Geese were hidden in the weeds.

A Killdeer walks in a shallow part of the stream.

This yellow warbler was in constant motion.