More fresh snow on the ground this morning. I am snow weary. I need a bird, nature, gone exploring in the wild fix with no clear return time. What I would love right now is sunshine, a warm spring breeze, and birds to lift my spirit.
Spring American Avocets in breeding plumage – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Two years ago today I was out with the birds at Bear River MBR. There were spring American Avocets that had just arrived on spring migration. They were dressed in their finest breeding plumage and settling into the wetlands for the season in small flocks.
Spring adult Black-crowned Night Heron in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And in spring the year round resident Black-crowned Night Herons are often more visible. This one squawked as it lifted off from the marshes that were waking up from the long winter.
Spring Adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The return of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds and their rusty gate song was and is a spring serenade. Some might say their calls are annoying. Not me. Those songs say spring to me.
Spring Marsh Wren singing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
By now the male Marsh Wrens should be busy building nests and singing at the top of reeds, rushes, and phrags. Their songs delight my senses.
Spring male Red-winged Blackbird singing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Right next door to the singing Marsh Wrens, male Red-winged-Blackbirds should be displaying, calling, and singing too.
This snow will stop. The gray skies will clear. I have to keep telling myself that almost daily now because I am in need of a bird and nature fix. I need to shed all the layers that have kept me warm through the winter and celebrate the arrival of spring like the birds do. That is as natural to me as breathing.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my bird photos in their galleries.
Glorious shots. Love the Avocet pics; their reflections are wonderful. Thanks Mia.
I hope you get your fix soon. Very soon. I am sure that it will be worth the wait.
Here on the Mendocino Coast it’s been too rainy to do much more than gaze out the window. Soon, we’ll switch from rain to wind. Spring is our worst season, IMO. The birds don’t care. They’ve started arriving and leaving. Gone are my beloved Yellow-rumped Warblers, but the finches are singing to make up for the butter butts disappearance. I envy you the Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Lovely spring birds, Mia. Our forecast for the next week is clear (with the tiny possibility of a splorch of rain on Monday), so hopefully, you guys will get a break too.
Hang in there, Mia! Every snowflake is one jot closer to restoring parched water-tables to support our dear birds and other wildlife! We can hope for gradual melt coming soon so it absorbs instead of floods. Then watch the land burst into bloom and our birds and wildlife thrive! Meanwhile – be grateful for your amazing inventory of stunning images – and the lovely memories they invoke! Spring IS coming … soon!
Loved all these different bird pics. Thank you.—Jeri S.
You and me both. We had snow again yesterday. At least I was able to put some good time into exercising on the elliptical and vibration board. Even the deer are staying put in their yards rather than venturing out to browse. At least I saw my first yellow goldfinch of the year.