I have about three days’ worth of photos left for publishing, and maybe people are tapped out. I can understand that given my incessant demand for photos and the limited supply of them among readers. If that’s the case, we will make this feature sporadic rather than daily (truth be told, I don’t know how many people follow this feature). But if you do have good wildlife photos, send them in.
Today’s bird photos come from Susan Harrison, an ecologist at UC Davis. Her captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
Awkward Youths
Midsummer is a time of gangly young birds that are starting to fly but may not be fully independent yet. Often they can be seen chasing their parents around and begging for food. Sometimes they seem naively bold, and let themselves be observed from fairly close up.
Some awkward youths from recent summers:
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus), Klamath Lake, OR (July 2020):
Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri), Ruby Mts, NV (July 2021):
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Bodega Bay, CA (July 2021):
California Quail (Callipepla californica), Bodega Bay, CA (July 2021):
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), Mt. Jefferson, OR (July 2022):
White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus) being scolded by a Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), Metolius River, OR (July 2022):
Common Ravens (Corvus corax), Metolius River, OR (July 2022):
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Sisters, OR (July 2022):
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), Sisters, OR (July 2022):
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea), Sisters, OR (July 2022):
Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis), Sisters, OR (July 2022):
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), Woodland, CA (August 2022):
I go through the wildlife photos daily.
Me too. Plus, I occasionally send forwards to friends who keenly appreciate wildlife and the planet. Bet I’m not the only one who does this.
Comment “I can understand that given my incessant demand for photos and the limited supply of them among readers….”. That would be certainly be my best guess.
If you are counting, Dr PCCe, I’m another reader who reads this feature every day. It’s one of my favs. I’d contribute but I am an idiot with a camera. I do hope other WEITers who are less stupid behind the lens will contribute…. even if it isn’t every day.
best
Me too – I check it every day.
I definitely view this offering every day, clicking through to go to the website so it gets counted. I also forward many of these entries to non-WEIT followers. The entries with background info are really fascinating, but I also realize how much work this is for you and your helpers.
It is frustrating to put this high-quality info out there and not get very much feedback sometimes. I write a chess blog and almost never get any responses. But when I run into my subscribers in person (they’re mostly friends), they always tell me how much they appreciate my efforts. I suspect you get the same reaction when you run into a follower in person.
I also read the Readers’ Wildlife Photos every workday, and enjoy it very much. I often make comments to make sure it’s known that the work is appreciated, as it is today: Beautiful photos, beautiful birds. I especially like the ravens, who look like they’re performing some trio on stage.
I have a few photos of local wildlife in south Florida, but they are not of high quality, being taken with cell phones spontaneously, so they’re really not worth sharing–I just like looking at them.
Thank you to the photo providers and to PCC(E) for making these posts!
Wonderful collection, Prof. Harrison! I had to chuckle at the bullying Steller’s Jay. Poor woodpecker doesn’t stand a chance.
I love these photos. Especially the Northern Rough-winged Swallows all bellowing at once.
I read the feature everyday and wish I had the ability to photograph like the contributors.
The heron looks so contemplative… I have stacks of photos & at some point will dig out some more…
The wildlife photos are how I found your site. I read them all; if not daily, I save the emails until I have time. So occasional posting sounds fine.
I also read the Wildlife photos/commentary whenever they appear. And if they were moved to a set day of the week or occasionally, that would be even better. As a reader, I cannot do justice every posting all the time; I end up skimming when I’d prefer to just be… enjoying them.