Farmyard Characters. Arrived at the Meeting

Huntsville, Sunnyfield Farm, September 2026

***

Returning this morning to Sunnyfield farm was surprisingly eventful.  I found myself in the farm's rooster community and discovered that each rooster has a distinct—and often ridiculous—personality.

The gentleman above arrived earl for the morning meeting and is currently trying to look busy until the rest of the group will join him.

Generally, life is good.

Black-crowned Night Heron is Hunting

Black-crowned Night herons are masters of patience. 

Their primary technique is simple: stand and wait. This heron remained motionless for a long time before deciding to slowly shift to a new spot. 

Moving into the shallow water, it adopted a different approach—slow, deliberate wading, lifting each foot carefully to minimize ripples and avoid alerting the fish below.

Generally, life is good.

In Quiet Reflection

A Snowy Egret in a quiet morning ritual of preening.

Generally, life is good.

One Morning with a Sandhill Crane - I

Luck plays a big part in bird photography. Every time I visit Bear River MBR, I hope for a pinch of luck to make the trip worthwhile—whether that means spotting a bird I've never seen before, or catching another glimpse of a Short-eared Owl.

Seeing a Sandhill Crane and following it into the marsh felt like a dream come true.

Taking a moment to preen, a Sandhill Crane gets ready for his close-up.

Generally, life is good.

Osprey Saga. A Young Osprey Learns to Build a Nest

The young ospreys are already on the wing. They venture far from the nest, but they always return home.

This young Osprey surprised me by bringing nesting material back to the nest.  Nest-building is an ancient instinct—he watched his father at work and followed right in his footsteps.

 

A young osprey is about to land on the nest while his sibling calls out nearby. They've become so vocal lately.

Mission accomplished: nesting material delivered. I'm sure this young osprey is incredibly proud of his hard work.

Generally, life is good.

Osprey Saga. A Look at Growing Ospreys

 

Growing by leaps and bounds, the young Ospreys frequently exercise their large, strong wings. 

They can’t fly yet—though their father will soon teach them to fly and hunt—but they can lift off for a few seconds to move around the nest.

After a high leap, a young osprey joined its siblings, spreading its mighty wings to show itself off to the world in all its glory.

Generally, life is good.

Osprey Saga - I. A Male Osprey Brings Nesting Material

Four years after the final pages of the previous Osprey Saga drew to a close in 2022, the next generation’s story opens with the male Osprey delivers fresh nesting material to his waiting family.

***

I watched the male Osprey for a while as he kept an eye on his babies. Then he was gone, only to surprise me fifteen minutes later by flying back to the nest with what he thought would be a valuable addition.  His choice of material was quite unique.

Unfortunately, that plastic rope he carried can be tangled hazard for his chicks.  I hope so much that they will be safe.

Flight requires a continuous cycle of raising and lowering the wings. What you are seeing here is the downstroke (or the push phase) of his flight cycle.

Wings spread and talons full, an osprey approaches its massive nest with a fresh find to secure it.

"Honey, I'm home... and I brought back some new decor!" 

A male Osprey delivers his find to his mate as he prepares to land on their nest.

Generally, life is good.

 

Nesting Tree Swallows

My last encounter with immature swallows was a memorable morning at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, where I photographed American Cliff Swallows. 

However, that very morning in Huntsville brought an unexpected surprise.

While exploring, I accidentally came across a family of Tree Swallows. As soon as I noticed the cavity opening of a weathered, dead tree trunk, I was greeted by two pairs of bright little eyes.

While the offsprings were climbing out of the cavity, their parents watched them carefully from nearby.

An adult male Tree Swallow keeps a watchful eye on his chicks to ensure their safety

The Hunter

 

Spotted this morning at Pineview Reservoir! 

During nesting season, male ospreys do almost all the fishing for their families. They'll eat the fish head for a quick energy boost, then deliver the rest to the nest, where the female protects the chicks and handles the feeding.

This osprey circled over one spot, looking carefully down, but unfortunately didn't catch anything.

His Majesty's Morning Catch

 

His Majesty of the Swamp—the same Great Blue Heron I meet every time I visit Pelican Beach—was a little closer to the shore this morning, busy fishing. 

The fish he managed to catch was quite large, and I watched with curiosity, wondering if he would actually be able to swallow it.  Young, inexperienced herons are often overly cautious with large catches, sometimes leaving them completely untouched. But His Majesty was an expert. 

He carried the fish to a safer spot—unfortunately a bit too far from the shore for a perfect view—and swallowed it with absolute ease. 

Watching him catch his breakfast was a wonderful way to start my morning.

The Morning Briefing

 

American White Pelicans in Huntsville.

Storm Clouds and White Feathers

The morning brought with it a strong wind and cold.

The sky stretched overhead covered with heavy storm clouds. The lake seemed completely deserted, not a single fisherman dared to risk getting soaked to the bone.

Yet, the American White pelicans remained utterly unfazed, gliding through the chaos as if the approaching storm were nothing more than a passing breeze.

Generally, life is good.

The Last Touch

 

Caspian Tern lifting from the water after a fishing strike.

Sovereign of the Swamp

Great Blue Heron announcing his arrival to his territory.

 

I first spotted this Great Blue Heron, a few days ago, hiding in the far reaches of the marshland. This marsh is completely his kingdom (though he occasionally lets a few pelicans share the lease). 

This morning, I waited... and waited... for "His Highness" to make an appearance. But when he finally returned to his wetlands, he didn't just slide in quietly. He announced his arrival with a thunderous, unmistakable cry, and I was lucky enough to capture that very moment.

Generally, life is good.

The Feathered Spa Club

Notes to Self. More on Sandhill Cranes

I am currently in the midst of a "crane phase" and continue to explore an interesting field that a pair of Sandhill Cranes has claimed as their territory.

Tomorrow we’re expecting snow and rain.

Sandhill cranes will not hide in thick bushes or under the trees during rain or snow. Because they rely on their eyesight to spot predators like coyotes or foxes, they prefer to stay in open wetlands or shallow ponds.

Even in snow, they typically spend the night standing in shallow water facing into the wind to keep their feathers smooth and tucking their heads into their back feathers to conserve heat.

Generally, life is good.

Notes to Self. Blackbird Pond

They call it Blackbird Pond, a name that sparks the imagination until you actually see the place. It’s a bit of a gloomy little puddle, honestly—the sort of water that looks like it might hold onto your boot and never let go.

After wandering for a mile and a half, I came to this pond feeling even more lost than when I started out. It was tiny, lonely, and gloomy. But out here, where the land is always thirsty, any patch of water is a gift.

The welcoming residents of the pond were: a turtle who perched on a log, two Canada geese, and a solitary Black-crowned  Night heron which I accidentally startled without noticing it. 

Long ago, I read that if you visit the same place consistently, it will inevitably begin to reveal its secrets to you, little by little. 

I’ll keep coming back, hoping that one day this dark little mirror will crack open and show me something I never saw coming.

Generally, life is good.

The Moment After Triumph

Perhaps this story begins just after the mating was over. Success was obvious. The male Canada Goose spread his wings wide, as if celebrating the moment.

The male Canada Goose looked magnificent—strong, proud, and unmistakably happy.

Mating almost always happens on the water.

The female lowers her body slightly, and the male climbs onto her back while balancing with his wings.

This is post-copulation moment. 

The male Canada goose opened his beak and stretched neck calling loudly. After mating, males often give a strong series of honks.  He is announcing the successful mating and warning nearby geese to keep their distance.

Generally, life is good.

Morning Wing Stretches

 

Dawn broke over a busy Bear River MBR. In the Tundra swan community, some still dozed, others were already foraging, while a few welcomed the morning with slow, elegant wing stretches.

Generally, life is good.

Finally, a Red-breasted Nuthatch!

For years, I’ve dreamed of coming across a Red-breasted Nuthatch, and finally, my dream came true! 

These tiny, energetic birds are often called 'upside-down birds' because of their unique way of navigating trees.

Unlike woodpeckers that use their tails for balance and only climb trees, the nuthatch has extra-strong hind toes and claws. 

This allows them to climb headfirst down tree trunks. By foraging downward, they spot insects in the bark that other birds overlook while climbing up.

The name "nuthatch" actually comes from their feeding behavior. 

They take a large seed or nut, wedge it into a crevice in the bark, and then "hatch" (hack) it open with their sharp, chisel-like beak to get to the seed inside.

Generally, life is good.