Robin Wars They’re back and as persistent as ever! Robin wars are on! 😀 Their penchant? To build their nests over the porch light housings. Not good for a variety of reasons. They’re sneaky about it, too, conducting their work in the wee hours of the morning. Here I’m getting ‘eye-balled’, probably to determine if I’m watching their clandestine construction activities. ~ Anecdote and American Robin capture, Robin Wars © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Perfect Complement As a still and placid morning broke over a secluded woodland pond, two pair of Wood Duck idled gently on a partially submerged log. Their impressions, reflections created by the specular properties of the mirror-like watery surface, were a perfect complement to the quietude of the moment. ~ Anecdote and Wood Duck capture, A Perfect Complement © Jerry L. Ferrara
Its Quavering Trill Atop a lofty sylvan crownFully dressed in royal gownA mighty king gives forth a callEchoes it through ‘mountain hall’Those who hear its quavering trillWill not forget the keening thrill ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Its Quavering Trill © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Standoff Looking like a couple of welterweight boxers in a pre-fight arena, a Red-breasted Nuthatch [left] and a Dark-eyed Junco [right] aggressively confront one another by threat posturing. For the moment it seemed a standoff. ~ Anecdote and Red-breasted Nuthatch/Dark-eyed Junco capture, A Standoff © Jerry L. Ferrara
Watery Whispers Shadows grow long at the day’s end. It is a time to wait and watch. While some forest entities seek nighttime shelter, others prepare for crepuscular and nocturnal activities. The latter’s machinations are at times hidden from view. Nonetheless, if one patiently looks close there are signs that are extant in revealing the secret actors. For instance, on the marge of a woodland pond near our home, there are times that tranquil tremors mysteriously radiate from one point near the water’s edge. The concentric ‘watery whispers’ indicate an unseen presence. Eventually the perturbations’ author reveals itself and a Muskrat emerges from its bank burrow on its way to an eventide foraging venture. ~ Anecdote and Muskrat capture, Watery Whispers © Jerry L. Ferrara
Coming Soon Being absent during winter, the perky Savannah Sparrow will soon return to our local fields and pastures. ~ Anecdote and Savannah Sparrow capture, Coming Soon © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Feathered Fisher This ‘Feathered Fisher’ is coming soon to our area. It is known as the Osprey or Fish Hawk. Caught this one on-the-wing after it had just pulled a good-sized meal from the water. ~ Anecdote and Osprey/Fish Hawk capture, The Feathered Fisher © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Look A pair of Western Grebe in courtship. ~ Anecdote and Western Grebe capture, The Look © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Quick Crimson-eyed Glance The other day I came across this handsome male Spotted Towhee, an 8-inch long native New World sparrow. Preceding the encounter I heard it rummaging around in the duff under some bushes. When it popped out and up onto a nearby rock outcrop, it provided an ephemeral opportunity for making the portrait. It gave a quick crimson-eyed glance before briskly dashing away. ~ Anecdote and Spotted Towhee capture, A Quick Crimson-eyed Glance © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Gymnast While testing and checking camera and lens combinations in preparation for an upcoming trip, I caught this Chestnut-backed Chickadee at the seed cylinder performing a ‘one-footed’ acrobatic stunt. The chickadee is quite the gymnast! ~ Anecdote and Chestnut-backed Chickadee, The Gymnast © Jerry L. Ferrara