1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100!!!!!

I headed to Holiday Beach today to see what was around, since I didn`t get out to the Hawk Festival this weekend.  During this time of year, there is always an official counter on the tower.  Before climbing up to the tower, I walked around the edge of the trout pond to see what was in Big Creek....lots of GBH's, Great Egrets and Mute Swans.  There were some ducks that were too far off to identify.  The thrill of this walk, however, was the Green Heron (life bird 99) that jumped up into a tree maybe 20' in front of me and was quite the model!

I have lots of pics of this guy....sorry to bore you :)

This picture is actually a different bird (I think) in a different location from the other pics.

I was thrilled with this encounter!!  I then headed up to the Hawk Tower and met a young U of W student that I told about this bird and that he was number 99 on my list.  He then pointed out a Pied-billed Grebe in the marsh, quite a way out, but there was a scope on the tower, so I got a good look at it....bird 100!  Thanks Jeremy!!

Here a couple other shots I got today that I liked...

Great Blue Heron taking off...looks more like jumping for joy :)

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I was hoping this was a Hairy, but I think it is a Downy...

Snake swimming in Big Creek

Sunning Turtle

What a great day!!
PS: Brian, did I beat you to 100? ;)

Heather`s Paradise and Ojibway

I was invited to birdwatch in my friend Heather`s paradise of a backyard.  They are fortunate to have a lot that backs onto a forested area and are blessed with many species of birds and other animals.  We heard a lot of birds, but very few showed themselves to us (and we were talking, so we probably missed a bunch).  Aside from the few pictures below we also saw a Yellow-rumped Warbler flitting about in the trees.  Two life birds for me were a Tufted Titmouse and a Carolina Wren :)

Female Baltimore Oriole

Best we could tell, this is a Carolina Wren...by markings and song. Life bird!

Tufted Titmouse!  Life bird!!

 After leaving Heather`s, I decided to stop by Ojibway.  I don`t have  alot of luck there...Dwayne always has beautiful shots of a large variety of birds there...   Anyway, I still enjoyed my time there and had to chuckle at the Red-bellied Woodpecker who insisted on drinking from the hummingbird feeder.

A turtle sunning itself.  Ì don`t know the variety...need more field guides :)

A couple of Canada Goose chicks...so adorable :)

This one makes me laugh...it`s like the ones on the logs are trying to show the one in the water what to do :)

Two of about 6 White-throated Sparrows along the path.  These two had a blast splashing around.

A butterfly who posed for me....need another field guide :)

Red-bellied Woodpecker a.k.a The Contortionist.

Hanging upside down to get at the hummingbird feeder....

Twisting to get his bill in the hole.

All in all, it was a wonderful day :)