Breeding birds

The birds are moving. Ah, words I love to hear, being the hardcore birdwatcher and birder I am. It is early spring and a birding binocular is my constant companion. Other equipment, such as digital cameras, spotting scopes and tripods, I will also carry as the mood dictates. Yesterday, I started with a binocular, but quickly returned home to add a camera (see my Optics Blog). That’s still a lot of equipment to carry when riding a bike, but it did pay off, both in birds seen and in pics.

Added some bird to my 2010 bird list with my Leica Ultravid 10x25BL binocular, to start the day. Saw my first Sandhill Cranes for the year and what wonderful memories these birds bring to me of my days in central Nebraska. By now, the fields in central Nebraska should be covered with many thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes. Oh, how I wish I were there! The flock was small one, but they were flying low and I did get a nice look through my Lecia, but no pic. Also added a Great Egret to my year list, down on the river. He flew before I could get a pic, but I expect he will be back.

Spring is breeding season for birds and that is a great opportunity for pics. Got this pair of Canadas sitting on the ice in the pic, above. I’m not sure which is the male and which is the female, but I would have to guess that the bird on alert with one foot raised is the male. I know the look, since I have been chased by these protective males when I have inadvertently gotten too close.