Category Archives: Birds
Killdeer
Friends, this little bird is the Killdeer, who builds a nest on the ground. If you venture near, the bird will put on an act looking like he has a broken wing and will try to lead you away from the nest. Here he stands in a puddle in Crex, no doubt looking for a nesting spot. Leaving South Dakota behind today and going to North Dakota. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Escape
Friends, this rough-legged hawk has escaped from our summery weather back to his frosty north land. This is a dark phase hawk who hung around later than usual this spring. The dark patch in the wrist area is the id mark that i look for to identify this bird. We are also escaping, running away to the badlands where it is typically hot and dry, a desert area with clay ridges and cliffs. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellow warbler
Friends, this tiny yellow warbler has returned to Crex. He was so hungry that he did not notice me creeping closer to him, he just kept pecking and snapping up tiny insects to fill his crop. After his long migratory flight, he was very hungry. still on the road in South Dakota, til Tomorrow MJ
Jumping for Joy
Friends, this dancing male sharptail grouse is jumping into the air to celebrate the arrival of spring, the weather is starting to warm up and thoughts turn to love, in this case grouse love, showing off for the girls, the males dance around the lek and occasionally at the end of the dance, they fly into the air, such a sight,yes the wings are blurred to emphasize the action we are in the badlands fighting with the wind til Tomorrow MJ
Willow Warbler
Friends, this tiny warbler is a palm warbler and he is an old bird on my life bird list, in the past all the images that i tried to get of this bird was blurred cause they are so quick , but this day he sat quietly in the willows and i was able to capture this quiet moment, I liked how the backlit pussy willows framed him, we are on the road to the badlands til Tomorrow MJ
Mother’s Day Warbler
Friends, this cheery little guy is wishing you all a Happy Mother’s day, This is a yellow rumped Warbler and his movements are very quick and darting while hunting insects on the sandy road . You can see his yellow id tags, one on his head, two on each side of his chest and a hint of his yellow butt patch from whence he gets his name. I love his black mask and always ask, who is that masked man?? this bird does not travel alone this time of year, there were hundreds hunting on the road right after the road grader had stirred up the sand. Getting them to hold still for a picture was the challenge, just like a room full of kindergarten kids,Mothers know what i mean, so I dedicate this post to my mom, who raised five little live wires, til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Patterns
Friends, the feather patterns of the sharp tail grouse are stunning when you can see them up close and personal. Most are white triangles edged in brown, and serves as great camouflage against the brown brush of spring. If the birds are not dancing and just sitting still, they can be very hard to spot especially in the light before dawn. til Tomorrow MJ
A Secret Moment
Friends, this pair of wood ducks are enjoying a peaceful evening on the small pond near our house, the female is almost hidden in the grasses of the lower left corner of the image, while the male is standing guard. These ducks arrive in the early spring and nest in the wetlands of Crex. They are extremely secretive and shy, flying at the slightest disturbance. til Tomorrow MJ
Grouse Attitude
Friends, an early morning in the grouse blind with male Sharptail Grouse dancing around us makes getting up before the sun very worthwhile, when they are tired from dancing, two males will lie down in the grasses face to face and stare at each other, these two rose up and this confrontation was apparent, the grouse on the left was all pumped up and full of himself, the right bird was giving a lecture, an attitude adjustment no doubt, I love when the birds and animals reveal their personalities and let me into their world, til Tomorrow MJ
The First Loon
Friends, The loons returned to Crex in the last week in April and just as the last of the ice was melting. The last of the ice is visible in the upper part of this image. The male and female were cruising the icy edge searching for tidbits and tasty morsels embedded in nature’s deep freeze. Soon they will start calling and doing their mating flights. Spring has finally arrived. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 