A Great Blue Heron

I worked to midnight on Wednesday night so I didn't get up early Thursday morning - took my time getting ready and decided to see if going at a different time of day would bring me any luck up to Market Lake.  

It was just before noon when I got there - looking down the canal it looked pretty quiet but I spotted the Osprey as he looked over the water - waiting for a fish.

Stopped at the pond by the trees and got a few shots of the juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron as he waited for something to snatch out of the water.

I walked the trees but didn't take a single shot.  Headed back south and stopped whenever I saw a Painted Turtle on the other side.

The Swan family was way out in the marsh as I went north so I was surprised to see them Right Next To The Road as I come back south.  And I do mean Right Next To The Road!!  I just happened to get there in time to catch a shot of one of the parents before they disappeared behind the cat-tails again.

As I head back south I always make the turn - it's "Marsh #1" and takes you over to this display they have and a "cemetery" for the people that used to live there.  I turn around there and head back down along the canal and look who's standing in the road!!

I wait and watch to see what he's going to do and he finally heads down into the canal.  

I have no hopes of getting close to him - I mean we are Really Close to the water right there!!

But he doesn't fly off!!  Big red car, my brakes are noisy - and he stays right there!!  I spent 30 minutes just inching along as he waded thru the water.

Lucky for me there were spots where I could get a somewhat clean shot of him!

He caught what looked like a fish.

And then he moved quickly to the other side of the water and made a quick stab and look what he comes up with!!

A Snake!!

He had a heck of a time - you can kind of see it in this next shot - he's actually "speared" the snake with his beak!

He did finally manage to get the snake off but - see those gold spots in all these photos?  He was behind those so I didn't get a shot of just "how" that happened but he did raise back up and I got some shots as the snake finally makes it into his mouth.

He moved back over to "my" side of the canal.

And then he finally - after 30 minutes of following along - seems to notice me and flies down the canal and finds a new spot to fish.  I leave him to his business.

That was fun!!

3 Trips to Market Lake

Had some time to go take some photos so I ran out to Market Lake - once before work on Monday and I was off on Tuesday so I went once in the morning and back in the evening. 

Here are some of the things I saw.  

Found a little Muskrat sitting and having some breakfast on the side of the canal.

At the trees I stopped and checked the water by the parking area and found lots of birds!  There was a whole flock of American Avocets that were searching thru the water for food.  They're usually much prettier than this - these didn't have the pretty cinnamon color on their heads so they're categorized as "non-breeding". 

And a beautiful Snowy Egret.  There were actually 3 right here - one flew off when I got there, this one stayed and here just off to the left I didn't even know there was a 3rd!!

I walked the trees and saw Great Horned Owls but I couldn't get any good shots of them so I didn't even take any!!

As I head south again I find a bee heading in on a flower (or weed!) of some kind.

Down at the south end I arrive just in time to watch an Osprey eating a fish!!

I love this spot - we're far enough away he isn't bothered by me so I get lots of shots of him!


He really was a messy eater!!  I won't share some of the "stuff" that fell away!!  Blech!!!

He ate quite a bit of it before taking off when a 2nd Osprey flew over.

And with that it was time to head to work!

Back the next morning I find a female Pheasant right next to the road.  I'd actually seen her yesterday too but she was on the other side of the canal.  I don't know - - but her eye doesn't look "right".  Is it supposed to be all pinkish-red around it??  Wonder what's wrong with her??  Or have I just never noticed that before??

I did find one of the Great Horned Owls where I could get some shots.  Wish you had been there to hear it hooting back and forth with a second one.  I could just barely make the 2nd one out hidden on the far side of the trees. 

But when I go to leave I can see the 2nd one from the road.

Look who else I saw!!  They can sure hide good - I'd already walked by him

once!!  There was a second Porcupine but I couldn't even see his face so I passed on him.

Looks like Fall is on the way - found a few leaves that have already turned.

Sat and watched another American Bittern.  I expected him to come up with a small fish - maybe a minnow - but I don't know exactly what this little green creature is.  It has a long tail - it's sticking out the other side of his mouth.  A lizard of some kind???
 

Found the Swan family as they rested on an island.  Here are the 5 kids.
 

I went back up in the evening - mainly for some sunset shots - but early enough I could look around for other things too.

You have to watch the far side of the canal closely as some of these birds blend right in.  Here's a juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron - he's standing right in the center of my photo.  See him??

Here he is - zoomed in.

The Pelicans are always soooo spooky and always take off before I can get close.  This one chose to fly away too but he flew up the canal and past me so I got a few shots of him anyway!

And here's that sunset I stayed for.

Hope you enjoyed - Thanks for looking!!

Market Lake - August 26, 2016

I can't believe August is almost over.  This year is just flying by!  

I had the day off - at least until I answered my phone!!  Got up this morning and was on the road by 7:30 to check things out at Market Lake.  All quiet on the drive north past the water so I pulled into the parking for the trees and slowed as I went past the spot where the Soras and Rails have been.  Today there's one of the young of the Black Crowned Night Herons looking for some breakfast.  

Off to the left is a second one - both of them stand still as statues.

 

They weren't catching anything so I moved on down to park the car.  Right as I walk down the path in the trees I stop to get a few shots of what I believe is a Sage Thrasher.

Some of them fly off to my left so I stop again for a few shots and here the one I'm shooting has an injured eye.

  
Ouch!!

Down the path I go and stop again when one of the little yellow birds that keep flying by me finally stops long enough for me to get a shot of him.  Looks like a Wilson's Warbler.

Then the very best find of the day is just down the path!!  The Great Horned Owl takes off before I even see him but as he flies away I see he's caught himself something.  I slowly follow behind to see if I can see what it is.

I finally catch up with him about half way down the trees and slowly pass him so I can see what it is he has.  It's a Muskrat!!

I stand and watch him for about 10 minutes before he finally turns and flies back down the way we'd come.

I have to go that way to get to the car so I get a few more shots of him as I pass by.

Wonder how long he'll sleep before he starts eating??  I won't get to find out because my phone rings and even tho' the caller ID says WinCo I answer it anyway.  Yeah.  I'm dumb like that!  They have someone NOT showing up so they get on the phone to find someone willing (dumb) to fill those hours so I get to go to work later today.

I stop and check the water there by the parking area and find a Sora this time.

Pretty quiet as I head towards home - I stop for a pile of ducks.

And a Double Crested Cormorant - I catch him just before he takes off!

Ok - better get the car unpacked and lay out the work clothes!  Later!! 

All the other birds . . .

and other critters!

Even when it's slow out to Market Lake there's always something to see - it's just been sooooo slow that I haven't been making a post for each trip.  In this post I'll put all the other animals I've seen.  

Like this Mourning Dove.  Sure got a good shot of it!

And a Robin - gathering some food.  That's a mouthful !!

  
 Western Kingbird.

And an Eastern Kingbird with a mouthful.

Barn Swallows.

 And Jack Rabbits.

Chipmunks

And the Swans. 

 

Painted Turtles - 4 in this shot.

 

The Muskrat

Someone's cow that was on the wrong side of the fence.

Another Barn Swallow - trying to get a perch on a cat-tail.
 

 
The wasp (hornet?) nest is still there so I always stop to look at it and snap a few photos.  Not sure but I think I managed to get a hornet - mostly in focus - as he flies away down at the bottom!

 

And a Golden Eagle - this one surprised me and I drove right on by and had to back up.  By the time I got stopped the car coming from the other direction passed me so then I had to wait for the dust to settle - did manage one good shot of it.