After two days getting up before 4:00 a.m., it was wonderful sleeping in somewhat Sunday morning before going over to the Portage. I had no expectations, I only wanted to go out and explore. Perhaps that is the best thing about going to a place you know well: you are always primed for surprises. I started walking in slowly around 8:30. Mine was the only car in the parking lot, so I had the entire place to myself. And it was quiet.
I was not surprised to see Wood Ducks, indeed they have been there every time, but it was special to see the young drakes in their new grownup plumage.
The surprise was seeing two young raccoons behind them.
I managed to get a picture of one.
The last few visits to the Portage have been scarce on woodpecker sightings even though I knew they were always there…so it was nice to see this Red-Bellied Woodpecker.
Through a break in the trees, a Red-Tailed Hawk was visible, perched on a bare limb over the water.
While I was trying to photograph the Magnolia Warbler below…
a Winter Wren caught my eye. It’s always a surprise to see a Winter Wren. Especially after I had given up trying to find the Carolina Wren who was singing earlier.
Downy Woodpeckers are always plentiful, but this one was busily drilling at eye level.
And not all the Gray Catbirds have left.
Heavy rainfall the night before filled the bottomland with water.
A lone Canada Goose was by the water near the Wood Ducks, standing on one foot
while many more flew overhead.
The most unusual sighting did not produce great pictures, but there were enough to identify a Northern Parula. My ebird sighting was questioned because I had to add this bird to the list; I did not dare add it until I was sure I had pictorial proof.
There was no shortage of Yellow-Rumped Warblers. Indeed, they were everywhere, although none were as photogenic as the week before. But I caught this one skipping across the duckweed.
The change of seasons renders the Portage a magical place.
You seem to get a rich and varied selection of birds to watch. I must try to get out more.
Ha ha – you get out much more than I do! No, actually, what was going on at the Portage was the result of the much-needed rain the night before and fall migration, and I think I just lucked out with the combination.
As I may have observed before, Arnold Palmer once remarked when an onlooker said “That was lucky!” as he holed a bunker shot that he found that the more he practised, the luckier he got. I suspect that that might apply to you too.
Thanks – the observation definitely applies to you and your uncanny ability to capture all those flying birds of the day. Maybe the places we frequent most, the local bird population tends to recognize us as not threatening, and the visitors take their cues from the residents too.