North Idaho Archives - Page 8 of 13 - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

California Quail – The Bird That Laughs

The Bird That Laughs The ambient light was muted and fading fast. Its softness gently caressed everything the eye drank. In the dim-lit setting, a chunky creature scooted quickly on rapidly moving feet across the open terrain and then exploded into a powerful but short flight that brought it to rest at the top of an ancient fence post. Throwing back its handsome head, the California Quail called out “ha-HA-ha”…and the bird that laughs’ voice rolled across the Palouse. ~ Anecdote and California Quail capture, The Bird That Laughs © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Shake Grasping its recently snared prey, a Fish Hawk [Osprey] rises aloft. In one brief moment, the drenched predator seemingly pauses in midair and employs a tactic to shed its feathers of water acquired during the dive. The shake sends a spray of fluid in all directions. ~ Anecdote and Fish Hawk [Osprey] capture, The Shake © Jerry L. Ferrara

Funny Face During the recent storms, a water-drenched Pileated Woodpecker peers in the direction of the camera … Funny Face ~ Anecdote and Pileated Woodpecker capture, Funny Face © Jerry L. Ferrara

Rushing The Western Grebe is a spring and summer visitor to our North Idaho area and one of its most recognized behaviors is the flamboyant courtship performance called “rushing.” The ritual often doesn’t last long but is none-the-less a thrill to view. The mated pair raise themselves up in tandem, arching their backs and cocking their heads atop their beautiful swan-like necks, and with their wings held back, they literally run across the surface of the water. Near the end of the rite the pair slow down and one or both dive below. Here are two Western Grebes I caught in full swing during their “rushing” maneuver. ~ Anecdote and Western Grebes capture, Rushing © Jerry L. Ferrara

Robert of Lincoln We’ve been anticipating seeing the annual reappearance of the Bobolink to the fields and meadows around our home. Robert of Lincoln showed up today. ~ Anecdote and Bobolink capture, Robert of Lincoln © Jerry L. Ferrara

Bandito The Common Yellowthroat is a five-inch long wood warbler found locally here in North Idaho near and in brushy areas especially within the haunts of riparian systems. The male’s conspicuous black mask lends him the devil-may-care personna of “bandito”. The Common Yellowthroat is the Zorro of the marsh. ~ Anecdote and Common Yellowthroat capture, Bandito © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Incoming Meal As a gift-bearing male Osprey returns to the nest, his female counterpart intently eyes the incoming meal … an exercise in courtship feeding. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, The Incoming Meal © Jerry L. Ferrara

Sunspot AR3664 Northern Lights – Cause and Effect

Cause and Effect

Suspended Suspended in midair against a cerulean sky, an Osprey’s attention is solidly gripped by the potential of a scaly meal swimming just below the lake’s murky surface. ~ Anecdote and Osprey capture, Suspended © Jerry L. Ferrara

Spring Renovation Home restoration is often a dirty job. Here, an industrious Columbian Ground Squirrel pauses during spring renovation of its burrow, den and mound. The soil on its front paws and heaped on the bridge of its nose and top of its head is telltale of its earth-moving methodology. One quick glance and the high-spirited rodent resumed excavation. ~ Anecdote and Columbian Ground Squirrel capture, Spring Renovation © Jerry L. Ferrara

North Idaho

California Quail – The Bird That Laughs

Fish Hawk [Osprey] – The Shake

Pileated Woodpecker – Funny Face

Western Grebe – Rushing

Bobolink – Robert of Lincoln

Common Yellowthroat – Bandito

Osprey – The Incoming Meal

Sunspot AR3664 Northern Lights – Cause and Effect

Osprey – Suspended

Columbian Ground Squirrel – Spring Renovation

Ferrara Wildlife Photography