Great Blue Herons on Miller Family Bird Colony Island: 1-5-20

  

Our largest heron

Young of the Year

Great Blues are one of the earliest nesters

Adult is preening on the right.  One of its two young-uns is on the left.

Two youngsters

One word essay

Itasca State Park, MN: June 2019

Flies, Flies and more Flies

Hairy Woodpeckers

• Hairy Woodpeckers sometimes follow Pileated Woodpeckers, and sometimes appears when it hears the heavy sounds of a pileated excavating. As the pileated moves on, the Hairy Woodpecker investigates the deep holes, taking insects the pileated missed.

Female Hooded Merganser

Deck shots

Female Red-bellied Woodpecker

South end of a northbound Tufted Titmouse

Hudson, a sweetheart of a dog that Linda plans to keep.

One word essay

American White Pelicans at Big Stone NWR, MN: 6-19

In breeding form with the bill horn

During the breeding season (mostly in WI, MN, and Canada), adults grow an unusual projection or horn on the upper mandible near the tip of the bill.

One word essay

Tanzania: 2-19

Black-backed Jackals

Ever on the alert.  When they rest, 360 degrees are covered as one watches each way.

The black-backed jackal is a fox-like canid^[5] with a slender body, long legs, and large ears.^[6] It is similar to the closely related side-striped jackal and more distantly related to the golden jackal, though its skull and dentition are more robust and the incisors much sharper.^[5] It weighs 6–13 kg (13–29 lb),^[5] stands 38–48 cm (15–19 in) at the shoulder, and measures 67.3–81.2 cm (26.5–32.0 in) in body length.^[6]

The base colour is reddish brown to tan, which is particularly pronounced on the flanks and legs. A black saddle intermixed with silvery hair extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail.^[6] A long, black stripe extending along the flanks separates the saddle from the rest of the body, and can be used to differentiate individuals.^[5] The tail is bushy and tipped with black. The lips, throat, chest, and inner surface of the limbs are white.^[6] The winter coat is a much deeper reddish brown.^[5] Albino specimens occasionally occur.^[5] The hair of the face measures 10–15 mm in length, and lengthens to 30–40 mm on the rump. The guard hairs of the back are 60 mm on the shoulder, decreasing to 40 mm at the base of the tail. The hairs of the tail are the longest, measuring 70 mm in length.^[8]

Bird Survey, Pinellas NWR: 1-5-20

Beach clean-up patrol

Look for Turkey Vultures as they cruise open areas including mixed farmland, forest, and rangeland. They are particularly noticeable along roadsides and at landfills. At night, they roost in trees, on rocks, and other high secluded spots.