Reader Pete Moulton sends in two photos from Arizona (click to enlarge):
We’re still waiting for the Pied-billed Grebes who own this pond at Papago Park in Phoenix to debut this year’s brood, so here are a couple of photos I took in the last ten days or so, just to amuse myself.The three little chicks are the second brood of a pair of American Coots (Fulica americana) from 28 June. I call them the Three Mus-coot-eers. The adults have some nasty habits, and aren’t all that much to look at, though I hear from my British friends that one has drawn a lot of their twitchers to the north of England recently, but the chicks are colorful and cute.
The other guy is a Green Heron (Butorides virescens), of course. I just can’t help but photograph every one I see, but in my defense they’re infinitely interesting little herons, always busy, and infinitely entertaining. This one reminds me of Kramer from the old Seinfeld television program.
Very nice photos
Thank you, Stephen! I count that as high praise.
Reminds you of Kramer? – what, did the heron use a negatively-connoted racial epithet in a stand-up routine?
Heh, I thought the heron had Kramer hair too.
Awesome mohawk dude. 🙂
Reminds me of that old Far Side cartoon – “Birds of prey know they’re cool.”
Loved that Larson!!
Great stuff, Pete! Once I get through a couple projects, I’m going to have to head up there and give you some competition. If you see a guy with a cat on his shoulders, say, “Hi!”
b&
I’ll keep an eye out for you, Ben. It’d be fun to shoot together.
Love the colours in the grebe photo!
Those are actually the coots, Diana. The grebes steadfastly refuse to come out until they’re ready.
Great photos, Pete! (You’re not related to some Palo Alto by way of LA Moultons, are you?)
Thank you, Merilee. No, no relation that I know of.
Nice shots. That green heron has quite the hairdo! We have green herons nesting every year in the trees around our pond.
Thanks, jblilie. They’re very expressive, aren’t they?
Great eye, Pete. Love the photos, the subjects, the light, everything.
Thanks, Smokedpaprika!
What kind of nasty habits do adult coots have?
We like to drink beer, watch (American) football, and we fart a lot.
You forgot yelling at kids to get off your lawn.
Now come pick up that beer can off of my lawn, whipper snapper.
Lars, although Stephen and Johnnie have accurately described a few coot behaviors, I sense that there was also a serious component to your question. Coots are very aggressive, constantly picking fights with each other, as well as with other species. They’re also known brood parasites.
Thanks, Peter. I didn’t realize that coots (the birds) acted in such ways. I’ve always enjoyed seeing them – they’re common Prairie slough birds – but all that I ever saw them doing was paddling about.
As to SB and JC – honestly never saw that coming, which shows that I really need a holiday.
Great Pictures! All of the green herons that I’ve seen here in central Florida have slicked back feathers on their heads. Is the “Kramer Look” actually breeding season plumage?