June 12, 2010

Pasture Life

The birds enjoy sitting on the wheel line, keeping watch for insect movement in the tall grasses.  Above is a western meadowlark.
(Feel free to correct my I.D. on any of these.  I'm guessing from pictures in a bird book and could easily be mistaken.) 
This appears to be a western kingbird.
He didn't hang around long.
This juvenile Say's Phoebe stayed on her perch, watching us while waiting for mom and dad to bring lunch.
Nearby, a couple of ants were hard at work hauling home a grasshopper carcass.
 To see more cute critters, click here.

31 comments:

  1. Nice to see so much life going on by the wheel lines.

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  2. this is very impressive. great photos!

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  3. Great shots :) Birds have a habit of flying off when I get my camera out!

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  4. I love the bird in flight shot!

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  5. Your bird shots are very good, Janie.
    I have to use books to identify birds too, as I'm a novice at birding. So I wouldn't dare correct you...besides you are very likely correct. I bet most of the birds in Utah are different from the ones in Ontario anyway. :)

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  6. Janie: Very cool captures, I always want to see a Meadowlark.

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  7. Janie, what a great collection of critters ... the birds are my favorites ... :D :D :D

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  8. I love watching the robins hop around the lawn searching for bugs. They are very entertaining.

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  9. Birds are not picky about where they perch are they? Cute.
    I am always amazed at the tenacity of ants...just so strong.

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  10. That Meadowlark is so beautiful! All you have to do is hang around the wheel line to capture good shots!

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  11. I love the vivid yellow of the Meadowlark and all the others are wonderful as well, Janie.
    Nice shots!

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  12. Down here in Florida I've learned my lesson about steering clear of the ants. (I think they could lift me up off my two feet if they wanted ... although they are just as content to bite).

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  13. Great shots!
    I've only begun to become a birder watching them at my feeder. Books are my friend. :)
    Love how you caught the one in flight.

    Yes, the lighting of my Luna Moth changed the color. The second shot showing a light mint green color is most natural.

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  14. Great photo!
    Check out my photo challenge website, www.weekdayphotos.com! Every weekday has its own photo theme and a different challenge every week, have a look and hopefully ill see a picture from you soon on weekday photos!

    Have a good one!

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  15. Really nice shots! I like them a lot! Have a great day!

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  16. Hi Janie,
    I'm still on blog break but wanted to pop in to see how you are doing. I hope all is well in your world. Wonderful photos as always here :-)

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  17. You certainly found lots of life in your pasture and you got some great pictures, The picture of the ants at work is very impressive -- and so are the ants!

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  18. Ain't they so cute? The birds and the ants. You camera is pretty clever Janie. :)

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  19. Wow, great shots Janie. I've never seen a Meadowlark before or the Western Kingbird. Great capture of the one in flight. Very enjoyable photos!

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  20. I took out my Sibley guide, the Wester Kingbird certainly looks like it, from the photo can not see its yellow belly. The first one certainly looks like a adult breeding Western Meadowlark. Great catch!

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  21. Such amazing captures Janie.
    Wonderful place.

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  22. The meadowlark is gorgeous! Ants work so hard, don't they? Amazing little creatures.

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  23. Janie, beautiful birds...you really have beautiful photos...love the last one...

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  24. I do love the song of the meadowlark and I think you are right on the western king bird. I'm not in love with your grasshopper carcass . . . but, every creature must eat.

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  25. There's a lot goning on out in your pasture besides grass growing.

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  26. Great shots of the birds. I liked the ants carrying the grasshopper home for dinner best though.

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  27. Great captures of the little creatures in our world. They truly are quite fascinating. Thanks for sharing Janie.
    Smiles

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  28. great shots. I love meadowlarks. They've got such great songs. That ant with the grasshopper- impressive!

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  29. You have one keen eye! Those ants sure work hard. This last shot would be a great, wry, illustration for the Ant and the Grasshopper fable!

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