Ridgefield NWR 09-29-11

The auto route of Ridgefield NWR had been closed the last couple of weeks so I was anxious to get back up there yesterday morning...  The refuge was engulfed in fog early on, but cleared up nicely after an hour or so.


All over the refuge spiders have been very busy getting ready for Halloween...


A young deer and its mom were snacking in the thistle...


Oh yeah, and there were some birds around too.  In one of the muddy areas with a bunch of Killdeer and snipe were a handful of American Pipits:


A Peregrine Falcon perched in a tree watching ducks and geese scatter when a Fish & Wildlife vehicle cruised by...


Rest Lake held the biggest mess of birds I have ever tried to sort...


It was kind of overwhelming... There were my first Greater White-fronted Geese of the season, Canada Geese, a billion ducks in vague plumages (mostly Mallards and Green-winged Teals?), a huge flock of starlings, swallows zipping around, and yes, some shorebirds.  It was hard to focus on just one area, let alone just one bird, but I tried...

Seemed like mostly dowitchers within view, but I could be wrong...



Just out of range of camera and bins were plenty more little guys...


Anyway, enough of that mess.  Sandhill Cranes are back!


Lastly, on my way out I saw a coyote finishing up a snack...


That was about it for the morning... Good times!

Comments

  1. Great picture of the sun poking through the tree and the spider web photos are great, too!

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  2. HI Jen..another great nature fix!! Love that shot of the Cranes and that deer awwww those eyes!! ITS hunting season here so the WOODS are off limits I HATE iT and dont understand it at all..WHY we who are peace loving nature nuts are made to stay out of the woods so those morons can kill the animals Call me stupid but duh????
    OH and I love that Falcon shot too--

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  3. Wow, all that in one day! Perfect spider webs and a coyote too!!!

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