Brown Creeper

 

I haven't seen a Brown Creeper in quite a while and it has been noticeable absent from my 2012 list. Well, add a check, as a walk through the woodlands along the Kiwa Trail at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge filled that empty square.

I saw several as I neared the end of the trail in the east woods. The whole trail was quite birdie yesterday morning, with Virginia Rails scampering across the trail ahead of me and sneaking among the grasses along the edge of the ponds. 

While the images at the top of this post are the closest I've taken to date, the image directly above is more typical of sightings, as the bird steadily works itself up the trunk of a tree, blending in very well with tree's bark.

Great Horned Owl

I drove around the RNWR auto tour yesterday and walked Kiwa Trail for the last time this year as it closes on Monday for the winter. Not a big deal as I don't walk the trail that often, but I thought it would be nice to do since the auto tour has been closed for a couple of weeks for road work.
As I neared the end of the trail, I met up with a fellow birder who asked if I had seen the Great Horned Owl near the beginning of the trail (beginning of the trail if you walk it counter clockwise). I had not, so, following his directions, I began a second trip. Sure enough, it was right where he said it would be. I'm surprised I had not seen it the first time around. Makes me wonder what else I'm missing. :-)
It wasn't very far off the trail, especially considering its size, but it was difficult to photograph against the brightly lit canopy of leaves behind it.

Ruddy Duck - Ducklings

I made another trip to the auto tour at RNWR on Friday. The drive is fairly slow this time of year, but it still serves up something special with each trip.
The first treat I got on this trip was finding this family of Ruddy Ducks. They were swimming in one of the canals on the Kiwa Trail. Most female ducks gather their ducklings and swim off when confronted with someone and though she showed concern at my presence, they broke up several times. Sometimes the mother would be by herself while the ducklings broke into two or three groups and while the mother stayed afloat the whole time the ducklings spent a lot of time diving.

Virginia Rail

I made a trip to RNWR today. It had been a while since I had visited and I was hoping to see some juvenile Yellow-headed Blackbirds. I did see some, but I wasn't able to get any decent pictures.
I walked the Kiwa Hiking Trail for the first time since last year. It was actually just the second time for me.
As I walked along the small stream that the trail loops back on, I heard some loud chatter in the tall grass that is growing along the waters edge. I suspected Virginia Rails, but of course, they wouldn't show themselves. They were on the my side of the stream and were literally at my feet.
Then I got the idea that if I looped around maybe I could see them from the other side. This worked out only marginally. I saw one adult creeping along the through the grass and another moving in the grass, but couldn't get a clear view. I was hoping to see a juvenile.
I squatted down and waited a bit and eventually the adult crossed over some matted grass and I got a clear view, but only for a moment and too quick to get a shot off.
Eventually I gave up and wandered back to the other side and then heard another Rail on the other side of the path. They began to call to each other from both sides. This, I decided, was my opportunity. I positioned myself on the path so I was just back a bit from the line that led between them, squatted down and waited, camera ready to shoot. Sure enough, it didn't take too long and the other adult crossed over not far from me. I lucked out as it stopped momentarily and I was able to get some pretty good shots of it. Even the sun was well positioned!