Sunday, October 18, 2020

Gilbert Riparian Preserve - February 9th 2011

 I have just realised that I need to catch up on my posts - 3 posts today to make me current again!

Today I left the house with the purpose of photographing the Burrowing Owls at Chandler. Unfortunately I sat there for 2 hours without even seeing the 'Sentry' that normally keeps look out at the burrow entrance. I am hoping that they have migrated, but I am also fearful that they have been disrupted and disappeared for good.

In the end I made my way to the Gilbert Riparian Preserve, only to find the place packed! One of the ponds was stacked with Snowy and Great Egrets... and of course the banks were lined with photographers. I set myself up in a quiet spot and watched for a while seeing some behaviour that I had not witnessed before - every bird would take off for a few minutes, hover on the air currents and come back down again. Add that to the flying Black-crowned Night Herons (which I have never seen on the wing before) and the numerous Ospreys circling overhead and it all seemed very strange!

Here is todays selection:

Verdin


Snowy Egret

Osprey

Killdeer

Double-crested Cormorant

Black-crowned Night Heron

Anna's Huumingbird

American Avocet

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