Great Blue Heron Takes Off

Great Blue Herons are very cautious birds and they usually tend to fly away from people. It is their survival instinct.  

That morning the Heron changed its direction for unknown reasons.  He flew towards me and it's hard for me to say why the Heron did this.

In this photo I cut off one of the wing tip of the Great Blue Heron but I think it's still acceptable.

It all started simply and nothing foreshadowed that the Heron would soon leave this place.  I regret that I should have anticipated this by giving the bird more space in the frame when it took off.  But I got what I got...

Generally, life is good.

Sword Fighting

American White Pelicans do not have dramatic fights but they do occasionally have  disagreements over the food, nesting sites or mates.

The two Pelicans above started argument for reasons unknown to me but it ended quickly. 

Birds snapped their bills at each other and even engaged in a "sword fighting". One of Pelicans spread its wings to look bigger and more threatening.  

But the argument didn't last long, one of the fighters decided to take a nap, and the other opened its beak wide and yawned. The "sword fighting" was over.

Generally, life is good.

Female and Male Long-billed Curlew

 

After a long and drawn-out winter the Bear River MBR came alive and greeted me with all sorts of bird voices.

American White Pelicans had arrived, Double-crested Cormorants were flying in the air, Western Grebes had arrived to breed and raise their chicks, White-faced Ibises where in their usual places and, of course, Long-bill Curlews, which I met immediately upon arrival at the refuge.

Female Long-billed Curlew.  

It's a little tricky to distinguish a female Long Billed Curlew from a male.

The most noticeable difference is the length of the bill.  Females have significantly longer, more curved bill.

Females are generally larger and heavier than males, but this can be hard to judge unless you see both of them together.

  

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Characters - I

It was very unusual to be under the gaze of the cows who were standing and watching me.

Most likely out of fear, I started talking to them, but the most surprising thing was that the cows "listened". Yes, they "listened" attentively, and some even tried to  stretch out their heads from behind the backs of other cows. 

It was at those moments that I suddenly thought that it would be nice to try to make their portraits.

 

Cows have distinct personalities, just like people and other animals. Some are more curious and playful, while others are shy or even a bit stubborn. This herd turned out to be bold, curious and  sociable.

Generally, life is good.