Summer Doldrums
I was going to make some lame excuse about the summer doldrums as the birds are preoccupied with brooding and tending to the business of family. But, in reality the doldrums are just in my mind. This is an interesting time of the year because there is always a chance to observe the occasional fledgling or to see an adult foraging for food and feeding the young. I don't spend any time looking for nests, but if I were out a little more often I'm sure I would stumble across a nest or two, or see some interesting bird behavior. For example, today I saw an adult Hairy Woodpecker, Brewer's Blackbird, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee each feeding its respective young, but I was sans camera.
The truth is that I have been busy tending to a few long-overdue chores, and maybe I'm suffering from a bit of post-vacation malaise. A different bed every night for two and a half weeks was actually quite tiring as I usually don't sleep well on the road. Long hours driving, chasing birds, and processing photos also took its toll. I think I've now caught up on the sleep. All I need is a few interesting photo opportunities to get me back up to speed - something like the Hudsonian Godwit I missed while on vacation or the female Indigo Bunting that Guy Monty reported a couple of days ago from Strathcona Park. It doesn't even have to be a new bird. As gory as it may seem, even the sight of the probable raptor taking care of the poor sick robin I saw yesterday under my rhodo bush would have provided some interesting shots. I must have been asleep when it happened as all I found this morning was a pair of wings and the tail.
Just so I wouldn't forget how to use the camera, I did poke it out of the window a couple of times at my Rufous Hummers. They are as rambunctious as ever with a host of juveniles joining the adults, and all of them buzzing all over the place like kamakazi pilots. As well, I did spend a couple of hours at Kaye Road last week checking for some warblers and flycatchers. The paucity of photos will tell you that I wasn't too successful. There were many to be seen and heard but very few to photograph. The only other pics I have to offer are a few more from my trip to Utah and Oregon just to show you that I actually do take the occasional shot of some flora and scenery.
Despite the slow-down in nectar consumption, there is still a riot of Rufous Hummers in the yard. I'm currently down to four or five cups a day from a high of 12 to 13 cups in the first 2 weeks of May. Someone mentioned there may be less demand for sugar water as there is more natural nectar available, and the diet of the females is now more protein-oriented for the insects and spiders to feed the growing nestlings.
A few males are still hanging around hoping some of the gals might want a second family, but it won't be long before they grow weary of the irreverent juveniles.
It's always a treat to find a Townsend's Warbler even if it was in the shade at River's Edge. Other warblers present but not cooperative for the camera were the McGillivray's, Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped.
White-crowned Sparrows were abundant at River's Edge and they are common all year in our region. I even had one in my yard this morning which is not usual as I am surrounded by large trees.
Another common bird at River's Edge that wouldn't come out of the shade was the Chipping Sparrow. It was very cooperative in letting me get close, but it stayed out of the sun.
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It Wasn't Just Birds on My Trip
This pair of fledgling(?) groundhogs saw their shadow at the Bear River Refuge.
Island Link - Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake is linked with the mainland by a 7 mile long causeway.
Antelope Island is mostly desert but still provides interesting birding and natural history study. This looks like a scene out a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, but it is actually a "Birds and Spurs" field trip as part of the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival. Here's an interesting tidbit: The Meadowlark, Leavenworth, and Great Salt Lake Bird festivals are usually on at the same time. How do you figure?
A Happy 100 Years - Zion National Park is one of the true natural wonders of the world, and it is now celebrating its 100th year as a National Park. Since 1919 it has been enjoyed by over 86 million visitors. If you haven't been there, put it on your list of things to do before you can't. Notice the rock formation on the left centre of the photo. That's Angel's Landing, a 1500 foot monolith with sheer walls surrounded on three sides by the Virgin River. There is actually a trail to the top, and it isn't for the faint of heart. It is narrow and treacherous in spots. I was told that an average of 2 people a year fall to their death although one website I found said that only 6 have met there untimely demise in 30 years by falling off the trail. Despite the possible hazards, look at the next photo.
Here's a shot of the top of Angel's Landing viewed through my 800 mm lens. I wouldn't try it, but it is a popular hike.
I don't need the thrill of cheating death to get high. The wonderful natural scenery can do it for me. Notice the narrow opening between the cliffs from where the river flows. At low water it is a popular hike to follow the river through the narrow canyon for many miles.
There are many curious and unique redrock formations along the multitude of hiking trails.
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Awesome Arches - Zion is the most popular National Park in Utah, but Arches National Park is also a major attraction and spectacular in own right. While Zion reflects the power and strength of nature, Arches demonstrates the whimsical and creative side of nature.
Besides over 200 hundred arches to explore, there are scores unique rock formations to ponder and admire.
The most famous arch is the Delicate Arch. It was immortalized as the symbol of Utah on their licence plates.
Because of the heat and busy tourist traffic I didn't carry my big lens. I wish I had as there were a few good bird photo opportunities that I missed like a close-up of this Rock Wren.
It's hard to imagine any birds in the sagebrush habitat, but I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of avian species on Foster Flats Road.
Summer Lake Hotsprings Resort - Camp on your own little piece of desert. The conditions were refreshingly spartan and unspoiled, but after a soothing, therapeutic soak in the hotsprings, nothing else seemed to matter. The funky and friendly atmosphere was an invitation to stay there again some time in the future.
Another shot of the Red-necked Grebe at Malheur.
I forgot to explain why the background isn't very interesting or appealing. It's the sagebrush that creates the colourless background.
We saw hundreds of White-faced Ibis. This shot at Malheur was just for the record.
Another common sight was the Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Summer Lake - Marsh, waterways, salt flats, and dykes are all part of the wildlife habitat.
Oregon Coast - Sealions with their young near the sealion cave.
The gray whale was another another visitor near the sealion caves.
Western Gull nesting area at Seal Rock.
Dinner is served - The Western Gull on the right was regurgitating food for its partner.
Dinner is served - How does the Common Murre find its partner in a mob like this?
Haystack and Needles are famous landmarks at Cannon Beach. Not only are they curious geological structures in the middle of a runway smooth beach, they are also exciting bird-nesting sites.
This was my first visit to the Oregon coast and I was blown away by the spectacular beauty of mile after mile of pristine sandy beaches washed by the Pacific surf.
One of our last stops on the way home was at Quinault Lake. We were surprised to find the world's largest spruce tree. It was 58 feet 11 in. in circumference, 192 feet tall, and 1,000 years old. Giant trees are not unususal for the Quinault rainforest as the average annual rainfall is about 12 feet a year. The region also boasts the world's largest Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock.
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Bird Poster
My posters are on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House; Nanoose Bay - Credit Union; Courtenay - Graham's Jewellers
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