Collared Snow/Blue Goose

Yep I do enjoy watching for and searching out the collared birds. Much like my waterfowl hunting friends who become jubilant when they down one of the banded birds, I do the same  happy dance when I'm able to locate a bird with neck collar.

I love to transcribe the numbers and dutifully send them to USGS  just to see where these lovely creatures have come from.
Yesterday while sitting amid a virtual tornado of snow geese (light geese if you prefer) I caught a flash of green around ones neck  flash over head.
Locking the focus on the bird I snapped and snapped.. hoping for an image that would enable me to read the entire collar number and report it.

That bird soared and squeaked , and circled taunting and teasing me before coming to rest just a few yards from where I was nestled. After the initial 15 minute or so merry chase.. the posing began !

I've dutifully entered the info at the USGS  web site and am anxiously awaiting the report on this fellow!

Collared Trumpeter Swans

Through the network from fellow birdwatchers I received word that the trumpeters were starting to arrive in force near the lock and dam in Alton, and especially good numbers could be found at Riverlands  Migratory Bird Sanctuary on the Missouri side of the river.
My heart soared much like the  gorgeous elegant birds flying over head, as I made the first turn out from under the Lewis and Clark Bridge.

The swans had arrived and large numbers of them were in good light, and great spots for photographs!  A quick dash into the visit center to check the bird number boards and locations revealed that over the previous two days the swan numbers were growing rapidly and nearly 600 were on the refuge that day.
I had high hopes of being able to gather some collar numbers for the Trumpter Swan Society and also for USGS and Illinois Swan watch. Little did I know just how many collared birds I would be able find that morning!
I was able to retrieve a total of 17 collar numbers, and spotted an additonal 11 collared  swans but couldn't make out the entire collar numbers.  It was especially exciting to discover a family that all members were collared and the cygnets were collared with succesive numbers.

 

Yes indeed there was a batty old broad in camo doing the happy dance all along the edges of the ponds and potholes !!

 

This group of Canadas brought a giggle when they discovered they only thought they were landing on open water..and had a resulting pile up when they hit slicker ice.

 

Nothing can compare with the elegance of the trumpeters in flight with the subtle whoosh whoosh of their wings that sounds so much like a tafetta skirt rustling in the breeze.

 

 

 

I'll be heading back to check on my friends the swans and the eagles this coming week - the icing over of the river should provide me with some excellent opportunities :) 

 

Bluebird Skies

Bluebird skies dawning at Silver Creek


Success for Bob and Adam Rutkowski of Team SILO despite the bluebird skies
Both limited out on scaup - giving the pups Nes and Piper their wish - ducks to retrieve!

The endless days of bluebird skies, high pressure systems, and failure of migratory waterfowl to have an early entrance to the Southern Zone has made for some tough waterfowl hunting in Southern Illinois so far this season. The conversation among waterfowlers seems to always begin with - "you even seeing birds yet?"
There have been small numbers taken, but nothing in comparision to what we will see soon.
Just this morning as I listened to the weather forecast, for snow, dropping temps, and reports of northern and western storms, I felt my heart sing - Bad weather is good for the ducks ! Bring on the cold drizzle, low lying clouds, and spits of snow and bring on the ducks!

My best pals and pit buddies Adam and Piper.

Adam coming back from chasing down a cripple that needed dispatched.

Adam and Piper - Ever vigilant Piper, a quivering mass of lab pup just waiting to hear "dead duck down!" her command to launch.

Another Collared Waterfowl

This collared Blue Morph Snow goose was spotted in the waterfowl rest area at Balwin Fish and Wildlife Area, Baldwin IL

Nesting and Breeding time for the Canada Geese!

The Canada geese are beginning to seelct nesting spots, have territorial disputes, and display their mating behaviors. Most evenings I can be found watching their antics as they play out some very distinct social and mating rituals.

On the road chasing waterfowl!

Well it's been a very busy week, and consequently I simply have been remiss in posting any of the images from my forays into the forests and the fields. I've combined my favorites from the past week into this small collage. Once again it's been all about the skies and the birds. The winter skies in Southern Illinois are so much more colorful and vibrant than the burned out flat hazy grey skies we see in the summer. The sun's closer proximity to the horizons in the winter months also produces some spectacular sunrises and sunsets for those brave enough to weather the frigid temps to capture them.
On the bird front, the feeding stations in my yard, a certified backyard wildlife habitat, have been full of the regular winter visitors such as blue jays, cardinals, variety of sparrows and finches, and the occasional Sharp shinned and coopers hawks cruising by looking for a songbird snack.
The waterfowl are still in full swing and this week I was once again treated to the trumpeter swans and the a new influx of migrating pelicans. The rivers, lakes and streams are mostly frozen over, cause large numbers to congregate near the few places that still have open water such as the Baldwin Power Plant, and near the lock and dams on the Mississippi and Kaskaskia rivers.
It has made for some great bird watching along the iced in areas, especially along the rivers where birds the birds congregate behind the barge cuts in the ice and near the few places with open water.
Lots of migratory waterfowl still keeping us company as well like the lovely specimen of an American Black Duck shown above.

Sunday January 4, 2009

Still in full waterfowl mode in Southern Illinois. The last creature in the line up is bit of mystery. He closely resembled a brant goose, but didn't have the characteristic white ring around his neck. Currently he's still a mystery to me. Red tail hawks were out in legion like numbers and turkeys were seen feeding on the winter wheat in several fields.