Bubble-net Feeding Humpback Whales: SE Alaska 8-21-19

 The whale is coming toward you with his mouth open.

The pleats in the lower jaw extend about 2/3s of the body length all the way to the navel allowing 5,000 gallons of water to be collected in the gulp.

Big Stone NWR, MN: 6-19-19

We noted many, many more Tree Swallows than Blue Birds nesting in Blue Bird boxes 

Never before had we seen an American White Pelican chase Double-crested Cormorants trying to get the cormorant to drop the fish it had just caught.

The lower cormorant is also chasing the upper one which has the fish

Churchill, Manitoba: 7-13-19

Adult Beluga Whale

Mom on the right with her gray youngster right at her side.  This time of the year the adults come into the shallower Churchill River to have their calves.

Mama Polar Bear with her two cubs who were born in January.

We went out in zodiacs or in kayaks to be up close and personal with the Belugas.

Churchill, Manitoba

Local shots

Sled dog ride in Churchill: 7-19

These amazing dogs are bred to run which is their passion.  The worst punishment you can offer them is to not let them run.

Potpourri

Mountain Gorilla: Uganda

Male Impala: Tanzania

The impala is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of the genus Aepyceros, it was first described to European audiences by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812. Two subspecies are recognised—the common impala, and the larger and darker black-faced impala.

Parasitic Jaeger over the Churchill River, Manitoba

Male Yellow-headed Blackbird: North Dakota

 A group of blackbirds has many collective nouns, including a “cloud” of blackbirds.

Western Meadowlark: Minnesota

American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants

Des Lacs NWR, North Dakota: 7-5-19

Des Lacs means River of the Lakes

Yellow Warbler

The male has those beautiful red streaks on its breast

Prairie Dogs checking us out

and let us know we were not welcome in their town

Mallard pair, female on the right

Family of Canada Geese