Belted Kingfisher

The other day I spotted a Belted Kingfisher roaming around the marsh. So yesterday I spent the entire afternoon waiting a listening for its rattle. I took alot of bad pictures. The Belted Kingfisher only got close late in the evning when it was getting dark. I think its a female because it has some brown on its belly.

Here'a picture of an Eastern Phoebe

And this might be an osprey... not sure, its a terrible picture.

 And this Canadian Goose is sitting on her clutch of eggs. (at least i think its the female). She hasent moved since yesterday and her mate has been no where to be seen since yesterday morning as well.

Swans and other visitors

A day or so ago i was out on the deck haveing a cup of coffee enjoying the morning when i heard a trumpet like noise. And guess who decided to stop by the marsh. A pair of swans. I guess they are tundra swans if i am correct. Cant remember exactly what kind of swan has been known to nest over in the lake on Lexington.

 

 

Today I was out on the deck having some coffee paging through a birdwatchers book and looked up to see this Racoon in the yard. 

he had been grooming himself in a tree but when i went in for my camera he dicded to relocate to my neighbors yard. 

Only got a few somewhat decent shots of him. The wind picked up for a second and blew the shed door open making alot of noise. So i went to close it and he climbed into the hole of the tree. 

Went down to the marsh edge and got a closer photo of a Great White Egret. 

 The other day I went to the North end of Snail Lake looking for the pair of Turkeys. The Tom turkey made alot of noise but didnt give me a chance to get his picture. I was afraid to follow him around after gobbling at me. 
Luckily before I left a pair of Red Tail Hawks gave me a chance to get some decent photos.

And here is a really bad photo of a Common Flicker

Spring Time pictures and a video!

So its spring.  Its been fun to watch the animals pair up and fight over nesting spots.

We have had 10 Great White Egrets in the Marsh this year.

 

Here is a photo of just one of them. The interesting thing that I noticed is that Egrets do not like Bald Eagles. I have noticed that everytime a Bald Eagle flys over all the Egrets in the Marsh will take to the air until the Eagle has left the area. One afternoon the Eagle landed in a tree overlooking the marsh and the Egrets circled for about 10 mins before finding a corner out of the Eagles line of sight. 

Here is a Mallard. 

 

And a group of 3 males 

 What I find interesting about the Mallards is how far a Male Mallard will chase another male or another pair away from his female and nesting site. I watched the same male chase off another pair of Mallards and fly over 5 mins in the air around the marsh before returning to his female.

Here is a picture of the first Earthworm of the year.

First Crocus

and his friends a day later

A Muskrat from before the snow and ice was all gone.

here is a video i took just yesterday at sun set. Its a really big Muskrat... or a Beaver, probably a muskrat.

A pair of Northern Shovelers

And a really bad photo of what I am fairley certain is an American Coot

Wood Ducks in a tree

 

The Red Squirrel

The Chipmunk who lives under the deck and who i feed peanuts to

I went for a walk over on the north end of Snail Lake. Found a pair of Turkeys but couldnt get a clear shot. I am afraid to get too close and have a big tom Turkey charge me.

A dead frog.

Great Blue Heron

And lastly I saw this Canadian Goose the other day.  He's tagged. But i cant read the numbers.

The tag could say 3QL50.