the last evening in January

Red-bellied Woodpecker

and now for something completely different

Thanks to Mike & Liz's post about 10 days ago, on my last trip to Monticello I found the Wood Duck they photographed. I don't know if they are common here during the winter, but he was sure fun to see.

He seemed to fit in with the Swans & Mallards; there was some friction with a few Mallards, but it could have been since he seemed to take notice of a particular female Mallard.

I hope he is still there when I return.

just a few more

Common Goldeneye & Swan

 

MORE swans?

After our breakfast, the fog began to lift. Here's what it looked like.

 

Les was smart -- he wore a snowmobile suit! 

Swan lady

"Is somebody confused here?"

"Oops!"

If you were #3 in the V, this would be your view!

more swans

"GERONIMO!"  

 Nothing special about this picture -- I just like the way the wing feathers drape around the Swan like a cloak.

 Don't you like how they all talk at once? I'm sure you can make your own comparisons.

 another belly shot

  

 these two remind me of the Blue Angels

While the mist was lifting, fog was coming in -- as you can see by this shot of the sun.

Les & I decided it was a good time for a coffee break in town.

But we did come back, so there will be more swan shots!

back at Monticello

Les called me on Wednesday and asked if I would like to join him at Monticello for more swan pictures. How could I say, no? The temperature was about 20 degrees warmer than last week, so on Thursday morning, about 7:15 a.m., I left home. 

This sliver of a moon was in the East, waiting for the sun to rise.

I arrived at the Swan Park a little after 8. Many swans were already there, apparently having spent the night. More kept flying in.

These Common Mergansers flew by in the distance, but didn't join us.

Of course, there were a lot of Mallards.

This swan snuck up on me from behind -- hence the blue sky above the mist & fog. It was so close I couldn't get the whole bird in the frame -- but, at least I got a good close-up look.
more to come

the remnant ...

... from last week's trip to Monticello.
I did return with Les yesterday morning and will be editing the new shots over the weekend.
Remember how one summer I got carried away with ducklings & goslings?
This must be the year for swans.

more swans + 1 mallard

these photos are from last week at Monticello

mallard in the mist

mirror, mirror ...

four swans

Fenelon & Madame

Fenelon & Madame II

wordless wednesday

a new beginning

more bird talk

"Both of you are show-offs!"

"You talkin' to me?"

"I'm hungry!"

"Turn left at the Canada Goose."

"Where the heck are we supposed to land?"

Monticello swan talk

"It's still not straight!"

"And your names are ... ?"

"For some reason I don't feel I belong here."

morning coffee break

"I think I dropped it right about here ..."

"I say that's not her natural color."