Turri Road - I was immersed in the sights and sounds of Spring. On this glorious morning, there were five pair of Cinnamon Teal feeding in the ephemeral cattle pond on Turri Road. A week ago a friend of mine told me she had seen a group of red ducks in the pond as she passed by on her bicycle. I really doubted that they would still be in the pond, but thought it worth a try. And there they were a dabbling.
The small pond and its nearness to the road allowed for excellent views of the dabblers. Without binoculars they would have been difficult to see. I always keep an emergency pair in my car. Through the twiggy trees, I had the pleasure of observing their courtship display of pre-nuptial head bobbing - not just a pair, all ten of them bobbing at the same time. It was a real birding moment.
All the black specks in the distance are Black Angus Cattle.
Other sighting - A few yards up from the pond a pair of Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) sallied forth, in pursuit of insects, from their perch on an old barbed wire fence. The male's cobalt-blue coloring was stunning.
Heard but not seen birds - Northern Flicker, House Finch, Song Sparrow, and the memorable, flute like, song of a Western Meadowlark. Check out the link to hear its beautiful song. https://youtu.be/Sk4S2spFdcs
*Cinnamon Teal by Mike Baird
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