Winged Wednesday 2/23/2022

[Trent Watts]

My contributions today are considered mundane in their colors. Nonetheless, their feathers are still quite beautiful, and they all have beautiful melodious songs.

Cactus Wren.
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Lincoln's Sparrow
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Hermit Thrush
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These are lovely pictures Douglas.

 

[Trent Watts]

For today's Winged Wednesday I wanted to share birds running on water for take-off. Doug Sherman will be taking over for the next month as I will be in Columbia SA photographing birds.

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Sandhill cranes running prior to takeoff. No one knows how fast they run but their flight speed is 25-35 mph. Their "runway" is about 20 yards long.

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Eared grebes in basic plumage (non-breeding plumage). Sometimes they run to get airborne and sometimes they run to avoid boats. Most other grebes dive to avoid people and boats.

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Ring-neck duck about to make a splash as he nears takeoff speed

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Ruddy duck eight strides into takeoff run.

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Canada Goose

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And my favorite runner is the American coot. Not the most glamorous species, however, they have the happiest feet.

I can't imagine what we will see when you get back from Columbia. These are a fantastic series of water takeoffs Eric.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I'm visiting family in the Slocan valley in British Columbia. There is a group of Trumpeter Swans that overwinter on Slocan Lake. I felt so privileged to see this very large swan that was so close to extinction in the early 1900's. Their very long strong neck allows these birds to dig deep to gather food.

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Looks like one Canada Goose is hanging out with the Swans.
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Beautiful images, Trent.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

My contributions today are considered mundane in their colors. Nonetheless, their feathers are still quite beautiful, and they all have beautiful melodious songs.

Cactus Wren.
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Lincoln's Sparrow
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Hermit Thrush
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nothing mundane about three exquisite bird photographs

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Eric's images are terrific, my own modest images of Eider ducks on a stormy Scottish sea. Ken
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two awesome common eider photos. The first one with the huge wave is absolutely genius, Ken

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Limkin, Greater Yellow legs and a green Heron.
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Just WOW on all three, Joe

 

[Eric Gofreed]

My simple offering for today are birds on a beach - seagulls of course. They love to hang out and forage where streams and creeks flow across beaches to join the ocean like the cluster of them shown here.

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I love sea gulls so yes, I think your photos are wonderful. Worth taking and worth seeing too.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Hunting Osprey
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An Anhinga enjoying a morning sprinkle
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two beautiful photos, Amy. Love the portrait of the Anhinga

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I'm visiting family in the Slocan valley in British Columbia. There is a group of Trumpeter Swans that overwinter on Slocan Lake. I felt so privileged to see this very large swan that was so close to extinction in the early 1900's. Their very long strong neck allows these birds to dig deep to gather food.

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Looks like one Canada Goose is hanging out with the Swans.
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A treat to see these long-necked swans photos, Trent. I noticed a ting of red on the head of the first trumpeter. That's iron stain from bottom feeding in iron rich sediment.

 

[Trent Watts]

A treat to see these long-necked swans photos, Trent. I noticed a ting of red on the head of the first trumpeter. That's iron stain from bottom feeding in iron rich sediment.

Thanks for the info Eric.

 

[Amy Nelson]

two beautiful photos, Amy. Love the portrait of the Anhinga

Thanks