Take a Breath and Watch the Birds

It's been a long and grueling week of unrewarding labwork and upsetting headlines. One of my coping mechanisms? Sorting through my recent bird photos. Here are just a sampling of the birds that I saw last month (during the same walk as the bobcat).

This might be my favorite one of the lot, because the background looks a bit like an impressionist painting. This is an American coot, and there are lots more photos of them below, since they're one of the most common sightings in the wetlands.

But first, a tour through some of the other species, including this female ladder-backed woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris).

A lovely hawk, I think a sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus)?

This little Lincoln's sparrow was posing cooperatively in the cattails.

And another cute sparrow, species unknown.

Perhaps the most interesting to watch, however, were the American coots (Fulica americana). 

The species overview on the Cornell Ornithology site begins "the waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck", which got a laugh out of me.

One, in particular, was bathing quite thoroughly, which made for fun observing and photography.

Dunk!

The also have rather impressive feet...

And here's a final, less-goofy coot photo, with a nice water reflection.

I went back to Sweetwater today and had an even better morning of birding (although no bobcat), so I look forward to sorting through and sharing those photos!

Bobcat!

On a walk last month, I had the good fortune of encountering a bobcat. The intervening weeks have been rather busy, but I finally got around to sorting through and editing my photos over the weekend, so here they are.

Having just emerged from the marsh, presumably after hunting, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) settled down in the middle of the path to clean off.

It's always important to get between the toes...

I like how clearly you can see the patterning on the ears in this one—white surrounded by black, with just a bit of black tuft (less prominent than on other lynx species).

Here's a quick video too.

This bobcat seemed unusually unperturbed by the audience that congregated (at a respectful distance) to watch. Presumably, living in Sweetwater Wetlands, it's become rather habituated to human presence. Nevertheless, they eventually walked off the other side of the trail and settled down behind the shrubs for a more extended and relaxed grooming session. I watched for about half an hour before I really had to get back to work, and I was able to get a few (mostly) clear shots through the branches.

Wild and domestic cats alike have a special way of looking as if they're doing yoga while grooming.

Didn't quite get the clear shot here, but I still like the result...

It's pretty awesome to make eye contact with a wild felid, even a small one.

While the bobcat of course stole the show, there were also many lovely birds, so stay tuned for those photos soon(ish).