More Wetland Wildlife At the Vermilon River. A Post to MWT and WBW.

We're starting to get our bright, sunny days, and you'll be able to see the effect in the photos. EC is on, but it is still hard to avoid an over exposure, especially when you pass from light to shade, and the subject wouldn't hold still for an adjustment. Thank God for Photoshop. This is the big wetland. The opposite side is every bit as large. The trail around the wetland is excellent, and soon the cat tails will be high enough to shield me from the wildlife. CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE AND WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW.

Some of today's photos were taken here, and others were taken in the wetland below.

This is the River wetland that I spoke about the other day. I had originally intended to hike up the trail to that flat area in the back of the photo, between the evergreens. But I was certainly ill-prepared as the trail is overgrown and poorly marked. So I'll need my trail markers and a pair of pruning shears to trim back the brush. The brush is mainly pin or choke cherry trees, good to attract birds and bears, and I don't want to do much damage to it. I'll cut out a small area so that I'll be closer to the water area in the middle. All the Buffleheads were shot in this area.

The Mallards were shot in a small wetland near the big wetland shown above.

They're at the back and fairly protected.

She's a real beauty. All the birds now are resplendent in their breeding plumage, as the young arrive the plumage will fade. Just like the human situation I guess.

I caught these Mallards in flight in the big wetland.

All the blue Mallards were shot in the big wetland under the intense sun. I think its just the effect of the blue sky reflection.

But its an interesting effect.

This is a series of Bufflehead shots, so named because of the shape of their head. These shot were taken in the river wetland and you can readily see the brown in the reflected light.

I find the female every bit as handsome as the male.

I want to get to the back of the wetland so that I can be closer to the birds as these photos are either 60 or 100 percent blow ups. I should also be able to avoid some of the water glare. Still the reach of the 150-500mm is really performing here. If the birds catch sight of movement they're gone.

This is a flight of Wood Ducks that would not roost for some close ups in the big wetland.

I'm extremely fond of Robins.

He's also dressed in his bright plumage, not showing any of the wear and tear that will come with the kids and mortgage etc.

The Song Sparrows have certainly arrived as there was no end to their presence and bright music.

All these guys are song sparrows.

This is a tree sparrow recognizable by the chest patch and the yellow in his beak.

I caught this raven in flight.

All the wetlands were filled with Red-winged Blackbirds.

Hanging out with the Red-winged Blackbirds were the Grackles so the wetlands were alive in sound.

The sun is just lighting up the plumage of these Grackles.

I just seemed to stumble from one set of birds to another, This is a male Hairy Woodpecker.

I put this Ring-billed Gull series in because he's clearly getting ready to go out. You can really see the water fly.

I caught these Chipmunks on my way back. They were frolicking on the trail so spring must be here. Valerie from Australia asked me if the Chipmunk is related to the Squirrel, so I looked it up. The answer is yes; the Chipmunk is a ground Squirrel, so we're fortunate enough to have both ground and tree squirrels.

And here's his cousin the Red Squirrel.

Couldn't resist these Pussy Willows. A post to MWT @ http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/ and WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/