sitta canadensis

west...

I was fortunate enough to spend a productive weekend in downtown Seattle at the beginning of April, and saw many new species just up and down the waterfront. On my last day, I took a taxi up to Montlake Fill, which was much quieter, but still afforded an opportunity for some closeups of familiar birds. As the sun set over the Sound, I decided to walk back to the hotel, neither having a complete map of the are, nor a clear idea of how long a walk it would be. A little over an hour and 5.1 miles later, I collapsed into a shower, and a well-earned slumber.

spring in the air

Despite a few last moment chilly days, spring has definitely arrived, and the birds know it.

Maybe not the sharpest photos I’ve taken, but good fun nevertheless. All shot in Gibbons Park, London.

a small taste

At the end of February, I visited Atlanta GA. It was a great opportunity to try and capture some of the more southerly species, though time and distance were limited. I was staying near Piedmont Park, a green oasis in the middle of the city, and home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

As it turned out, stormy weather and construction hampered my efforts, but I still managed some portraits of the spring yet to come in the north.

winter into spring

February brought brief glimpses of wintering duck species on the Thames; Canvasback, Redhead, Wood Duck and Lesser Scaup among them, including this immature male in transitional plumage:

And a last shot at seeing White-winged (Two-barred) Crossbills, only occasionally looking up from gorging on spruce cones.

Some warm weather brought out American Robins and Cedar Waxwings to sample the hackberry crop:

A single White-throated Sparrow thought they looked good, too.

But soon colder temperatures sent these more colourful species into cover, leaving only Juncos, Chickadees and Brown Creepers.

Brrr.