I did the same earlier for a better look and I'll stick with Merlin.
Love their talent for eating on the fly!
Barb Deihl of Tweeters believes the three "sky" photos are of a juvie merlin carrying off a dragonfly.
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Wldlife of Edmonds, WA. 2014
- Thread starter Bill Anderson
- Start date
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Barb Deihl of Tweeters believes the three "sky" photos are of a juvie merlin carrying off a dragonfly.
What Terry said.
Chad
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Barb Deihl of Tweeters believes the three "sky" photos are of a juvie merlin carrying off a dragonfly.
It rained most of Wednesday (7/23), which caused the marsh to fill up and resemble a lake.
The eagle continues to take fresh water baths in the creek and dry out on one of the telephone poles beside the railroad tracks.
Two ducklings and their mother were swimming in the waterways.
Two herons were on the south side of the marsh. It is the first time I have seen herons at the marsh in quite some time.
The eagle continues to take fresh water baths in the creek and dry out on one of the telephone poles beside the railroad tracks.
Two ducklings and their mother were swimming in the waterways.
Two herons were on the south side of the marsh. It is the first time I have seen herons at the marsh in quite some time.
Friday (7/25) the merlin flew across the marsh and perched in a tree near the #1 viewing platform to eat a dragonfly it had caught. Still not the greatest photos as there were heat waves and the merlin was perched on the wrong side of the tree top, but the photos are better than those of 7/21 and they clearly identify this member of the falcon familiy as a merlin.
It remained there until it was rousted by a crow. Look to the left of the tree and you can see a pair of dragonfly wings floating in the air.
Some more dragonfly wings are stuck in the merlin's talons.
I took more shots of the merlin walking on the mud on the south side of the marsh, but they were not worth keeping due to the distortion caused by the heat waves.
It remained there until it was rousted by a crow. Look to the left of the tree and you can see a pair of dragonfly wings floating in the air.
Some more dragonfly wings are stuck in the merlin's talons.
I took more shots of the merlin walking on the mud on the south side of the marsh, but they were not worth keeping due to the distortion caused by the heat waves.
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This summer the hummers are boycotting the feeders on my back deck, so I photographed one Friday (7/25) at one of Terry's feeders.
This past week, the high tide at the marsh has been occurring around sunset. While scenic, photography can be challenging due to the low angle of the sunlight.
Saturday evening (7/26) several families of geese provided some artsy shots.
One family was eating grass directly in front of the #1 (far western) viewing platform.
One of the adults always maintained watch while the juvies ate.
Saturday evening (7/26) several families of geese provided some artsy shots.
One family was eating grass directly in front of the #1 (far western) viewing platform.
One of the adults always maintained watch while the juvies ate.
A (greater/lesser?) yellowlegs flew up along with some killdeer as I was photographing.
I had to shoot at a minimum of -1 exposure compensation to prevent burning out the bird's white feathers as it was wading.
I think this is a lesser yellowlegs due to its shorter, straighter bill.
I had to shoot at a minimum of -1 exposure compensation to prevent burning out the bird's white feathers as it was wading.
I think this is a lesser yellowlegs due to its shorter, straighter bill.
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A birder with binos spotted a (long-billed/short-billed?) dowitcher on the far south side. I eventually located it as well.
I think this is a short-billed dowitcher based on its shorter bill and white belly.
I think this is a short-billed dowitcher based on its shorter bill and white belly.
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All this time one of the the Pt. Edwards eagles was perched on one of its usual spots beside the railroad tracks.
The eagles typically do not respond to getting strafed by crows, but they get upset when strafed by gulls. Perhaps it is due to the gulls' larger size and larger bill, which might hurt if stabbed with it.
The gull left and the eagle stretched a wing. At this time of day, the eagle can best be viewed from Anthony's employee parking lot off Admiral Way.
The eagles typically do not respond to getting strafed by crows, but they get upset when strafed by gulls. Perhaps it is due to the gulls' larger size and larger bill, which might hurt if stabbed with it.
The gull left and the eagle stretched a wing. At this time of day, the eagle can best be viewed from Anthony's employee parking lot off Admiral Way.
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Sunday afternoon (7/27) I was solving the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle while watching the Mariners-Orioles game on the Root Sports Northwest cable channel when I heard some strange cries from my backyard. Further investigation turned up a pileated woodpecker perched on the trunk of one of my four giant Doug firs.
Judging by its pinkish top knot and dark "moustache", I think it was a first year juvie which had recently fledged and was crying out for mommy and daddy. Sorry Junior, you are out of the nest and on your own. I hope my tall Doug firs and suet feeder entice you to take up residence in my backyard.
Down at the marsh, the (Heermanns?) gulls continue to harass the resident eagles when they fly to one of their regular perches on a telephone pole by the railroad tracks.
Continued.
Judging by its pinkish top knot and dark "moustache", I think it was a first year juvie which had recently fledged and was crying out for mommy and daddy. Sorry Junior, you are out of the nest and on your own. I hope my tall Doug firs and suet feeder entice you to take up residence in my backyard.
Down at the marsh, the (Heermanns?) gulls continue to harass the resident eagles when they fly to one of their regular perches on a telephone pole by the railroad tracks.
Continued.
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Continued from page 43.
Four (lesser?) yellowlegs were at the marsh. Once again, the distance and bright sunlight coming in at a low angle across the mud and water made photography difficult.
Shot with negative exposure compensation. Otherwise, the white feathers would have been completely burned out.
"Artsy" shot created through post processing.
The yellowlegs took off leaving this bird behind. It might have been the short-billed dowitcher I photographed the day before. I tried manual focus to overcome the effect of the heat waves rising off the mud.
Four (lesser?) yellowlegs were at the marsh. Once again, the distance and bright sunlight coming in at a low angle across the mud and water made photography difficult.
Shot with negative exposure compensation. Otherwise, the white feathers would have been completely burned out.
"Artsy" shot created through post processing.
The yellowlegs took off leaving this bird behind. It might have been the short-billed dowitcher I photographed the day before. I tried manual focus to overcome the effect of the heat waves rising off the mud.
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Terry O
Well-Known Member
Cool and exciting, Bill....definitely a juvie. BTW, I observed a white-headed woodpecker in Plain that was taking suet from the feeder and stashing it in the crevices of a large pine - making it easier, I assume, for a juvie to feed. Wonder if that's what is going on at your place.
Terry O
Well-Known Member
Four (lesser?) yellowlegs were at the marsh. Once again, the distance and bright sunlight coming in at a low angle across the mud and water made photography difficult.
Shot with negative exposure compensation. Otherwise, the white feathers would have been completely burned out.
Great job, Bill...definitely challenging conditions - sorry I missed your call just long enough for them to fly off. BTW, I agree, looks like lessers to me too.
I was at the marsh once again Monday evening (7/28) shortly before sunset. What I believe are three lesser yellowlegs and a short-billed dowitcher were still there. They disappear midday when the tide is out and the marsh is just a mudflat but return during high tide.
Lightning conditions continued to be challenging, but I am starting to enjoy the effect.
Two yellowlegs wading.....
while the third was sacked out.
One walked past a killdeer. I took some shots for size comparisons.
Artsy flight shot.
A great blue heron walked past what I believe is a short-billed(?) dowitcher.
Lightning conditions continued to be challenging, but I am starting to enjoy the effect.
Two yellowlegs wading.....
while the third was sacked out.
One walked past a killdeer. I took some shots for size comparisons.
Artsy flight shot.
A great blue heron walked past what I believe is a short-billed(?) dowitcher.
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photographmemories
New Member
What Terry said.
Chad
An osprey did a low flyby of the fishing pier Wednesday (7/30) morning.
Shore birds and high tides continue to provide interesting photo ops at the marsh shortly before sunset.
I believe the bird on the left is a dowitcher and the one on the right is a yellowlegs.
Shore birds and high tides continue to provide interesting photo ops at the marsh shortly before sunset.
I believe the bird on the left is a dowitcher and the one on the right is a yellowlegs.
The merlin was hunting at the far south side of the marsh.
7D + 100-400L zoom, uncropped.
7D + 4.0/500L + 1.4 teleconverter, uncropped.
7D + 4.0/500L + 1.4 teleconverter, cropped.
7D + 100-400L zoom, uncropped.
7D + 4.0/500L + 1.4 teleconverter, uncropped.
7D + 4.0/500L + 1.4 teleconverter, cropped.
Thursday (7/31) morning I caught a hairy woodpecker at my backyard suet feeder. Its brown feathers show it to be the Pacific variant.
It picked something up from the suet feeder and carried it to one of my Doug firs.
That evening I went back to the marsh. Three yellowlegs were present, but I suspect everyone has seen enough of my photos of them from the past week. A dowitcher and a mystery sandpiper were also present.
Once again the merlin was quite active. It flew across the marsh and perched quite close to us, but unfortunately it was in a spot where we were looking directly into the sun. Nothing could save the shot.
After it took off I got a better shot of it and the resident eagle.
It picked something up from the suet feeder and carried it to one of my Doug firs.
That evening I went back to the marsh. Three yellowlegs were present, but I suspect everyone has seen enough of my photos of them from the past week. A dowitcher and a mystery sandpiper were also present.
Once again the merlin was quite active. It flew across the marsh and perched quite close to us, but unfortunately it was in a spot where we were looking directly into the sun. Nothing could save the shot.
After it took off I got a better shot of it and the resident eagle.
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