My wetlands walk this morning included a beautiful singing common yellow-throat and a very chatty yellow-breasted chat.
Tag Archives: Haskell Baker Wetlands
Goslings!
It was wonderful to see all the geese parents and goslings hanging out together this morning! I love how they group up so there are more adults watching the young ones.
I also spotted a beaver, a couple of hooded mergansers, and a young bald eagle flew over looking for breakfast.
More Spring Arrivals and a Glorious Moon
It was a nice mild morning at the wetlands. The moon was beautiful and there are more spring arrivals every day. This morning, I spotted a common yellowthroat (very common at the wetlands!), orchard orioles, and a yellow-breasted chat. The chat was not so accommodating with the photographs. I tried, but he kept moving from the top of one tree to another and always obscured by leaves, so the pictures were not so good. I will keep trying as I’ve seen him in the same place every spring for the past few years. I saw the start of a woven nest—maybe an oriole’s work? The highlight of the morning was watching an osprey fishing!
It didn’t look like they got anything on this dive. They shook off the water and kept at it, still circling around when I left. That is hard work! It amazes me how they can take off from in the water. They must have incredibly strong wings.
Wood Ducks are Nesting
It was a frosty morning at the wetlands, but the sun quickly warmed things up. A bald eagle was enjoying the sunrise, a Cooper’s hawk was hanging out, and the male wood duck was patrolling while his mate was investigating the nest box. I can’t wait to see the baby wood ducks!
April Snow
No surprise in Kansas. Our weather at best is unpredictable. The biggest snow storm I remember from childhood was late April. School was closed for a week! This morning, I rushed to get out to the wetlands because I haven’t been out there this winter when it was snowing. I was sure I was going to miss a snowy wetlands this year, so thank you, universe!
Herons
I’m seeing quite a few great blue herons and green herons. I’m looking forward to the little blue herons.
Mama Beaver
So privileged to get to see a mama beaver this morning! I wish the pics were better, but the sun was in my eyes and I was just shooting in the direction of the movement. She was about the size of a Labrador!
New Arrivals
It was a terrific morning for walking in the wetlands. The sunrise was spectacular, and I loved watching the coots eagerly flying across the path and diving into the open water.
I had it mostly to myself and got to see my first of the spring little green herons and an American bittern. The bittern pic is not great, but it’s so good to see them again. There have been so many times I have been standing right next to one and didn’t realize it until they flew away. Such good camouflage!
A great blue heron made some geese very unhappy by standing on their muskrat lodge, but eventually left them to it. I see geese nesting on top of the lodges fairly often. That seems like prime real estate! I’m hoping I will get to see some goslings soon!
I’m still stalking the same area looking for river otters. I didn’t have any luck today, but I did get to see a super cute muskrat having breakfast.
Great Egrets Return
So nice to see them again!
Eagles, hawks, coots, and muskrats
Chilly and windy, but a lovely morning walk!