More From Creamer's Field

We've taken several walks around Creamer's Field during the last several days.  The fields are full of Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese and various other waterfowl.

There's lots to see, including the barns, Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese, and some fences for Theresa's Good Fences.

 

And more fences.  There are a lot of fences around Creamer's Field.


I always like spotting one of my favorites birds, White-fronted Geese.

The seasonal pond, which should be empty this time of year, is providing a bit of extra beauty.  The picture below was taken on the 26th.

 

 Fall is rapidly catching up with us.  The picture below was taken at the same spot, only on the 22nd.

We keep getting rain showers, which tends to limits good photo opportunities.  The seasonal pond on the 26th shows a shower starting that sent us back to the car, but we'll come another day when there's a bit of sunshine.

I am linking up with Good Fences

at the Run "A" Around Ranch Report.

Wigeon Reflections

American Wigeons, May 11, 2014

Taken at "Crocodile Lake"--the name given to the reclaimed gravel pit near our house by my granddaughter Sydney.  Strangely enough, we've never seen a crocodile there......

Wander Lake Surprise, Part 3

I finally caught up with the Swan, back on the part of the lake where I had first seen him.

It was only a matter of a few minutes, though, before he decided to take off.

I love being able to get a series of shots of a takeoff.  In real time you don't see the feet going madly as they run across the water.

A tighter crop shows that a little better.

Finally, lift off!

I followed him with my camera as he flew across the lake.....

......and higher against the trees.....

.....and even higher against the hill in the background.

My last shot was of a speck as he cleared the hillside and headed in a southerly direction. 

In an attempt to make him more visible, I added a Comic filter.  I was intrigued by the resulting circular aura around him.

I hope you've enjoyed chasing the Swan around the lake with me!  I likely won't see any more Swans until they are heading north in the spring, unless I head south too and see the flocks that overwinter in the Skagit Valley in Washington where my son lives.  Click HERE to see Swans in the Skagit Valley.  I've posted quite a few photos of Swans in the spring over the last several years, and you can see those by clicking HERE.

Wander Lake Surprise, Part 2

 After grooming himself for a few minutes, the Swan swam out onto the sheltered corner of the lake.  Although most of the lake's surface was rippled from the wind, in this corner the water was still and provided some lovely reflections.

For several minutes I sat quietly watching him.

The reflected colors were a lovely backdrop for the white Swan.

Ever alert, the Swan spotted someone coming down the trail....

.....and it was time to begin evasive action again.

He kept an eye on the intruder.....

......and paddled quickly away.

He headed back up the lake.....

......leaving me to follow around the lake after him.

He paddled much quicker than I could walk!

Continued tomorrow......

Wander Lake Surprise, Part 1

 When I walked to Wander Lake last Friday the leaves in the trees provided a lot of color and the trail was carpeted with them.

I was looking for some fall reflection shots at the lake, but the wind kept the reflections down.

However, as a few of you guessed, the surprise I found was a lone Trumpeter Swan.  It made up for the lack of reflections.  I had thought the swans were long gone, but at the beginning of my walk I saw a pair flying over Creamer's Field.  A flock of 100 or so were reported flying high over the fields Wednesday.

The Swan was cautious, though, and no sooner had I saw him then he began swimming around a corner away from me.  I had intended to just stop at the viewing platform near the end of the trail, but I had to follow around and see if I could get a few closer photos of the Swan.

As I came around the corner I saw him not too far from the bank.....

......but he spotted me and was soon on his way across the lake.  Swans just seem to glide along, but he was moving at a pretty good clip.  You can maybe see the black foot out behind him in the photo above, providing a powerful stroke.

The trail around the lake is a little less than a mile, and I hadn't intended to go that far, but there was that silly Swan swimming towards the other end.

So I had to follow.  As I went around the lake, the water at the other end was much calmer, providing some nice reflections.

I finally spotted the Swan again on a small island, joining several ducks in a grooming session.  I quietly sat down on a bench to watch, and he didn't seem to notice me.

Continued tomorrow with some Swan reflections.....

Fall Wander Lake Reflections

 A few weeks ago I posted some reflection shots that I took at Wander Lake.  Click HERE to go to that post.  I've been looking for a sunny day to go back to capture some fall colors.  Yesterday was mostly sunny and a little windy, but the temperature was up to 55 degrees.  My perennial flower bed needed to be cut back and there were other chores shouting at me.  Well, what could I do?  Of course I closed my ears to the shouts and headed out the door with my camera.  There are only a few fleeting days before the snow will be on the ground and you have to take advantage of nice weather when you can.

Because of the wind the reflections weren't quite as clear as the previous visit.  I walked around the lake and on the far side the water was out of the wind and provided some better reflections. 

There was an even better surprise at the lake that made me happy I went.  If you look closely you can get a glimpse of it in a couple of the photos.  Stay tuned......

River Reflections

Going back in time a couple of months to September 23rd, just a little ways from our house, the fall leaves were gorgeous reflected in the Chena River.  Now the water is frozen and the banks of the river are covered in snow.

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I'm linking up with Tricia's Watery Wednesday II..