An afternoon for the birds

The sky was turning blue and the sun was warm as I came home from campus for lunch, so I had my hopes up, but by the time I ate and took care of some work chores, the clouds were back and the wind was cold. Oh well.

I went out anyway, and I don’t think I saw a single mammal, let alone reptiles, amphibians, or insects. Luckily, there were a few birds about, and here they are.

The belted kingfishers were active at the north end, and I think I finally captured an image of a female with her decorative chestnut flanks.

Here’s the male who was in the vicinity.

• 

• 

Also at the north end was this lone female, or immature male, red-breasted merganser.

• 

• 

Finally, on the shore of the northern island was this lone American coot, perhaps the same one we saw there yesterday on that same island. It sure was not as friendly as the one that came to visit me much farther south yesterday.

Speaking of that friendly coot from yesterday, here’s another picture.

And one more, without goop hanging out of its bill this time.

Okay. Last one from yesterday, and this time one of the beaver, in which you can just see a bit of its grey tail on the ground just under its mouth.

The forecast is for mostly sunny to sunny tomorrow morning, so keep your fingers crossed.