Spotted Sandpiper

American Kestrel

Shot at dusk.

Beaverhill Lake - Beaverhill Bird Observatory

This is funny. I almost drove 4 hours to a lake that no longer exists. Next time you research something online, make sure it is an up to date website. Apparently Beaverhill Lake has not had any water in it for the last 5 or so years. They don't know why, there are theories, but it dried up, or is drying up...?? There is luckily some water in it this year. I'm not sure if it was completely dried up at one point or not. It's interesting, I'll have to find out more. Imagine how disappointed I would have been to walk up on a dried lake!!! lol

Party time

Tree swallows, barn swallows, bank swallows and who knows what else. It's a big pile to swallow.....?? Lame attempt at a pun. You wouldn't think I was the son of John, lol.

Redheads

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Notice in the second photo; long, thin leg dangling.

????

In the lush, plush brush I spotted a thrush in a rush to not be seen much! Not sure yet what type and such....lol This has proven to be a very difficult bird to identify for certain. At the moment I am thinking it is a hermit thrush. Tough identifications, I find, are best tackled using a process of elimination. Choises left are: hermit thrush, swainson's thrush, grey-cheecked thrush and veery. The hermit thrush is the only thrush described with an olive-brown to russet-brown upperparts, as opposed to just olive-brown. This bird definately looks more russet-brown than olive-brown, which may be the deciding factor.

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

These are the creepiest bird pics ever! Bird horror movie auditions winner. lol

Barn Swallow

Bank Swallow

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Couldn't see a female anywhere.

North American Badger

Tree Swallow

Not sure yet.....blury anyhow

Say's Phoebe

Red-winged Blackbird

Mrytle Warbler

Western Meadowlark

Flycatcher

Not sure what type of flycatcher yet. Perhaps a dusty, or gray flycatcher, so hard to discern.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Hey, you have sap on your beek. Hahaha, sucker!

Northern Pintail

Hybrid Northern Flicker

New flicker photos.

American Dipper

Posted shots of these birds in the winter. These photos are a little clearer.

White-crowned Sparrow

All the white-crowned sparrows please stand up, please stand up, please stand up! All the white crowned-sparrows in the house say yaayoo! If you my homie white sparrow say whoomp, whoomp! Yeah, break it down sparrow styles. Kickin' it white-crown. Rollin' with the white-crown. WORD!

Porcupine

Don't shoot, I'm unarmed!!!!! lol

Killdeer

So many funny looking birds. I wonder if they do kill deer, lol.

Green-winged Teal

Common Goldeneye

Female.

Male.

Harlequin Duck

The male is black. They like to be in strong currents.

Wood Duck

I always smile and shake my head when I see the male wood duck, unreal. lol.

Not used to seeing ducks in trees, looks odd, hehe.

American Coot

These birds are so rambuncious in the water, it's funny to watch.

Red-necked Grebe.

First grebe I've seen! They dive pretty deep, I lost sight of it quickly.

Bufflehead

Female on left.

Greater Scaup

It is extremely hard to discern between a lesser scaup and a greater scaup, but I'm fairly certain these are greater scaups. Notice the green hue of the males mostly black head.

Rutty Duck

Male has blue bill.

Northern Shoveler

Largest bills in North America!

American Wigeon

Ring-necked Duck

Can't believe I noticed this pair of ring-necked ducks amongst the scaups. Actually, I didn't notice until I got home, lol.

Swan

Looks like a tundra swan, but could be a trumpeter, not sure.

Savannah Sparrow

Canvasbacks

Male has red head. Photographed from very far.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Just about to land.

Prairie Dog

Cute little prairie dog, eh?























How about now? lol

Swainson's Hawk (light morph)

It took me a while, but I finally noticed that this is not a Red-tailed hawk! It is a Swainson's hawk. I noticed the multiple tail bands. It had a fresh kill and an either incredibly brave, or stupid Magpie wanted some, lol. It actually pulled on the hawks tail, fairly hard! The hawk couldn't have cared less. I'm sure the Magpie could have been the hawks next meal if it wanted!

....and then there were two.....