My last stop before Rentenaar was a house that has been empty for a long time. There are five structures on the property and every single one is falling down and sketchy. But if you walk through the backyard there's a great view of some water that happened to be filled with Snow Geese and Tundra Swans.
A Bald Eagle cruised overhead causing some commotion.
The Snow Geese settled down again just as the Bald Eagle reached a field of Cackling and Canada Geese farther away.
I was trying to get a better look at that dark dot in the tree in the above photo (bottom left), hoping to turn it into the recently reported Golden Eagle.
The view above looks possible, but a later photo made it look a bit different.
Alright, finally we made it to Rentenaar Road and I walked the dogs up and down to see what we could find.
Mount St. Helens was looking ridiculously fantastic yesterday.
A big ole murder of 60+ crows was hanging out in the reeds, occasionally taking flight to really show their numbers.
A couple of wild kitties got the dogs excited.
They're pretty cute with bright green eyes. Someone should go trap them! Nearby the kitty hangout is the area known for sparrows. The only interesting one yesterday was the leucistic Golden-crowned Sparrow which looks way cooler in person than photos.
The mutts were stoked on their sunny walk, filled with animal smells and sounds, and stuff to pee on.
I think we all agreed that the California Quail sounds coming from the blackberry bushes were the best sounds of the day.
After Rentenaar I stopped by Gillihan Road again and found Colby looking for the Tricolored. He thought he had seen it earlier, but wanted a better look. I gave it another half hour before giving up again. Oh well, it was a beautiful day to spend outside with several FOY species for me. Good times!
Sights and sounds and stuff to pee on--sounds like a good time, very similar in all regards to birding this past weekend in Arizona. Cheers!
"The existing home is a fixer."
--The rotting corpse is, in fact, a cadaver.
Who doesn't love peeing on stuff?
Only people with hearts--and kidneys--of stone.
I'm fairly cool? and have only been talking about Northern Saw-whet lately. Usuall, I say Sauvie Schmauvie, but a Louisiana Heron is pretty interesting so far from home. Super cool Golden-crowned! Glad you got out into the good weather between slangin' seed and talkin' suet.
Ha!!!! I was wondering what the hell you were talking about! And for the record "fairly cool" followed by a question mark?! Come on! You're a triple threat: actor, Tilley hat model, AND owl whisperer! The coolest.
SO much suet... And no you can't use your damn coupon.
Reclaimed barn wood! Just think of the savings! Sandhill Cranes as yard birds? Priceless.
If that's what you guys are into, then you are totally missing out on Indiana... Reclaimed barn wood by the truckload, and Sandhill Cranes a-plenty, including in (well, over) my yard.
If Only I had a cool half Mil....wow what a cool place never mind cool people--whats in that baggie you been carrying around? Im so extremely jealous of the Cranes I'm never in the right place at the right time!