Category Archives: birds

  In the past couple of days, I have watched flying birds. It is striking how those that travel in flocks follow different rules when it comes to synchronizing their wings. Small birds seem to ignore synchronization, big birds often … Continue reading →

  Six Trumpeter Swans first swam by and then took to the air. It isn’t unusual to see a few Trumpeters at this time of year, in the water and usually feeding in the shallows. It is more unusual to … Continue reading →

  Maybe I am not all that observant, but I rarely see a Ruffed Grouse in display. Although it presumably happens a few times a year, I have seen it only about once every four years. A display involves a … Continue reading →

  A week ago, I posted pictures of a winter visitor to the valley bottom: a Pygmy Owl. Given its preferences, this owl would prefer to go after irruptive birds. This week many irruptive birds, Bohemian Waxwings, arrived about a … Continue reading →

  The Northern Pygmy Owl is an inconspicuous little owl — at least it is for much of the year. It resides in the uplands where its small size makes it difficult to be found amidst the vastness of all … Continue reading →

  The Pygmy Owl lives in the alpine forest for most of the year, but in winter, it moves to lower elevations. Here it feeds on songbirds, particularly irruptive birds, a bird which occasionally migrates to a southern area in … Continue reading →

  Bald Eagles are early breeders. But, January? Well, it seems so. The early part of this minor drama was seen but not recorded. A female eagle was sitting on a branch and suddenly began to call. Soon it was … Continue reading →

  Perhaps three or four dozen Bohemian Waxwings graced the skies at one time. I tried to capture a flight shot, but only succeeded in capturing two in a tree. The Bohemian Waxwings is perhaps the ultimate example of an … Continue reading →