It’s been a while since we’ve had a contribution from ace bird photographer Colin Franks, but it was worth the wait. The IDs are Colin’s. His web page is here, his Facebook page here (sign up, great bird photos daily), and his Instagram page is here.
Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius):
Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula):
Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos):
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides):
Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii):
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus):
Barn Owl (Tyto alba):
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus):
Dowitcher (Limnodromus):
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa):
Wonderful set!
These are great, Colin! Thanks!
Very nice.
Two inane (insane?) comments:
First, someone simply must write a character named Rufus Hummingbird into a story.
Second, something that occurred to me upon seeing the last photo: How much wood would a wood duck duck if a wood duck could duck wood?
Beautiful, especially the bluebird.
Beautiful photos, and a great variety!
Those are impressive.
Gorgeous photos, Colin, thanks for sharing these!
Phenomenal!
Stupendous photos. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful images. The patience required and the commitment to get the down and decidedly dirty Dowitcher image earns you a standing ovation from me. If I tried to get that image at my favorite birding location I would sink neck deep in the mudflat ooze.
Patience required. Right now, as I type this, I am in hour 3 of a stakeout of a dark morph Red-tailed Hawk. I am getting weak.
First class photos. Thanks for sharing.
The woody is my favorite duck. Look at that red eye! I know he’s been up all night.
Truly superb photos as usual.
Adult Short-billed (Limnodromus griseus) and Long-billed (Limnodromus scolopaceus) dowitchers are very difficult to tell apart. I believe that this is a Short-billed, but I am not a dowitcher expert. Both species are scarce where I live. I’m lucky if I see a couple of individuals of each species a year, and they’re usually juveniles, not adults.
It is all in the supercillium.
https://www.surfbirds.com/ID%20Articles/dowitchers1005/dowitchers.html
Thanks for the link. This rings a bell. I’ll read with interest. I already see that the authors spent over 800 hours looking at dowitchers. I like dowitchers but … that’s a lot.
Truly magnificent photos, every one! Colin, thank you so much for sharing these.
Colin, you’ve made my day! Your work is exquisite, and that wee bluebird is the most exquisite!
Thanks for the kind words all, it’s a passion!
Stunning photos!