Photographic Sunday: Birds Chilling Out

Another cold day but who cares! I love the sunshine and the blue sky!

Another perfect view.

Today, I decided to head in a different direction from yesterday and biked towards Steveston. Soon enough, I spotted a Northern Harrier resting on a log!

It was so far away, but thankfully I brought my TCON-lens with me today.

The following photos were all taken with my TCON-lens. I got some of my best shots of the resting harrier today. So happy!

I spent at least ten to fifteen minutes freezing my fingers off but also had a great time photographing this bird. I guess the temperature was too cold for them to do any unnecessary flying.

The harrier then flew off and I continued southward. Near Steveston Farm, the birds were either eating or resting. One of the non-duck birds was a Wilson's Snipe.

Also another great shot taken with the TCON.

While I was taking photos of the birds in the puddle, a little chirp drew my attention and a Song Sparrow just rested near me and not moving. This, of course, deserves more images as well.

Then the sparrow flew off and stopped on a cattail to give me a better pose!






Thanks!

After the Song Sparrow moved on, I returned back to the snipe and saw it was resting.

Sleepy Snipe

But then four Killdeers flew above me and stopped in the ditch too.

3 of the 4.

Then I realized there were more snipes that I originally thought.

More snipes poking its long bill deep down into the mud for food.

The cold temperature has frozen parts of the ditch, and I saw this juvenile Great Blue Heron looking very weary and cold standing on a ice-frozen log.

I feel your coldness too.

Than I arrived at Steveston, the first time I have been back since my trip away from Canada.

Mount Baker in the distance. What's that red thing?

Snow Geese taking off - apparently spooked by something.

A closer look at the red thing. No plaque, no descriptions, no anything. [Edit: This is Wind Waves, or Olas de Viento, by Yvonne Domenge. More information here.]

Then it was just a nice relaxing time to just chill out and enjoy the sunset.

When returning home, a Northern Harrier was trying to attack something. Apparently it was a Belted Kingfisher (near Francis Road entrance part of the trail), and it escaped without too much trouble.

A final look at the kingfisher before it went away (while I was looking at the camera).

What a great birding Sunday!
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