Raindrops pelt the surface of Canvasback Lake as a greater yellowlegs hunts in the shallows.
Tag: River S Unit
Fish Hook
A double-crested cormorant surfaces after looking for fish in Horse Lake, showing the sharp hook at the end of its bill. I’ve seen them in this close at Horse Lake before but more typically I see them on the opposite side of the refuge in Bower Slough. I was hoping this one would swim even closer so I could better photograph it’s brilliant blue eyes, but there was too much traffic for it to feel comfortable and this was as close as it came to the road.
The Shallows
A hooded merganser swims into the shallows of Long Lake to hunt for fish. It swam up with its crest extended but pulled it down tighter and tighter as it prepared to dive under the water. There’s a culvert at the end of the lake where logs accumulate and mergansers like to fish in the area. There’s a sign on a bright metal chain above the culvert, warning people to stay back, that obstructed the view when it surfaced with a small fish in its bill. Mergansers are shy so I didn’t dare risk spooking it by starting the car to move into better position.
The Great Blue Yawn
A great blue heron pauses its preening for a brief yawn on a rainy January afternoon.
The Sun Rises
Cackling geese fly at sunrise above Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. I deliberately set the exposure to leave the scene dark, this is not at all what it looked like to the naked eye.
Redtail in the Morning
A red-tailed hawk flies above Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge as the sun is about the clear the trees atop the hill that overlooks the refuge, while fog hangs above the river and lakes.
V Formation
A flock of cackling geese flies in the familiar V formation as the sun is about to rise above the hill that overlooks the refuge, while fog settles in down near the river.
Young Blue
A young great blue heron pauses while hunting for voles near Horse Lake. I’ve seen juvenile herons in this area over multiple years, it is right near the start of the auto tour and I suppose the older herons don’t consider it prime territory. I didn’t think I’d have much chance for pictures on this occasion as the heron was a bit far off and facing in the other direction, but it eventually turned and came right towards my car. Those blue feathers on its head that are sticking up will turn white as it ages.
Black Phoebe
I had stopped at the culvert at Long Lake to see if any mergansers or other ducks were fishing in the shallows but saw a small dark bird flitting above the flotsam instead. A song sparrow often works this area but it is looking for food in the water, not above it, so I grabbed the telephoto lens for a better look. I was surprised to find the bird was a black phoebe, only the third time I’ve seen one (the second was also at Long Lake but in a different spot and time of year). I saw my fourth later in the day at Bower Slough but it didn’t give me the repeated close looks this one did.
Raindrops
I spent about 20 minutes watching this American bittern in the pouring rain on Christmas afternoon of 2012. I’ve photographed bitterns many times on the auto tour and knew to approach slowly and shut off the car once I got close. It was my first time out in my new car but I treated it the same as the old, I rolled down the window and placed some old towels around the opening to absorb the rain. The bittern wasn’t actively hunting so the water accumulated in giant drops on its head.
The peace and quiet ended when a diesel pickup drove up and idled beside me. The bittern slowly turned around and disappeared into the marsh but I was very thankful for our time together, bitterns are one of my favorite subjects and it was a lovely way to end the day.
Boolie 