The irrigation canal has been filled – which always means the return of the duck couples. I spotted several but this was the closest I managed to get for a photo.
I did not know that heron would flock. Normally I only see them individually on the river. Recently I walked by a wetlands preserve that I usually drive past. I don’t generally walk there because I like to have routes that are a loop, and to go to this place I have to walk there and then backtrack.
This has been a mistake. Also, I should take my actual camera, tripod, and zoom lens next time I head that way. Not only were there a ton of heron (I assume it’s a nesting ground) – I also spotted a fox! The heron seemed rather unconcerned about the fox, quite possibly because of the large number of them. Seriously. I’m sorry for the cell-phone photo, but keep looking. You’ll spot a LOT more. (click for larger version)
This is a rare time when the post is coming on the actual date I took the photo. One of the things I love about where I work is the attention paid to making sure we have a nice environment that is pleasant to come to. We have a lot of beautiful flowering trees that burst into color in the spring. The combination of the blue sky and the white flowers were too lovely not to share right away.
I often see seagulls on the Columbia River – which is always a little odd because I’m rather far inland (many hours!). One morning there was a huge flock in the middle of campus – a rare sight for me! Like a kid, I had to startle them into flying and then I captured this with my phone camera. I guess the phone camera is why there are shadow birds in the image, but I think it looks cool.
On a recent outing I walked by where the goats live. This time one of the adults was willing to pose for a photo. What a sweetie!