August 4th and 5th, 2018 - Reifel Bird Sanctuary

Here's another belated post (written in November) about the birds seen at Reifel Bird Sanctuary in early August. Late Summer is one of the worst times of the year for birding, so most of my outings were at Reifel. I can count on seeing something there most times I visit.

Saturday, August 4

As I was entering the Sanctuary, the first creatures spotted were not birds, but a large group of Carp in one of the ponds.

Carp - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

I shot a movie on the Nikon, it's kind of creepy.

For much of the summer there has been a lone Trumpeter Swan at the sanctuary. This is one big bird compared to the Mallards in the background. Read on for more size comparisons...

Trumpeter Swan - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

In August the shorebirds start returning from the breeding grounds in the North. The return stretches out over a couple of months, with the young coming south separately from the adults.

These are early returning Greater Yellowlegs.


Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

This movie is a bit choppy, but captures the essence of the species.

Here's a a couple more shots of this species:

Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

I believe this next shot shows a Lesser Yellowlegs, the bill length is less than the length of the head. It's also possible that the previous shot above is a Lesser.


Lesser Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018 (2018 Species #188)

Each year, there are many birds born at Reifel, here's some of this year's batch.


Tree Swallow (Nestlings) - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

I waited patiently and was able to capture this movie of them screaming for food just before they got fed.

Ths shot's blurry, but shows a parent with food visiting the nest.


Tree Swallow - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

If you look back at the earlier Yellowlegs photos, they seem quite large. These photos of them next to Mallard Ducks puts this in perspective.

Mallard (F) and Greater Yellowlegs - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

Here's another comparison, a Mallard and a Long-billed Dowitcher, another bird that seems large when seen by itself.

Mallard (F) and Long-billed Dowitcher - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

By this time I was out on the western perimeter of the Sanctuary. There are Purple Martin boxes outside the boundary, and today they had occupants.

Purple Martin - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018 (2018 Species #189)

Purple Martin - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018

My last bird of the day was this finch. I'm pretty sure it's a House Finch, not a Purple Finch.

House Finch - Reifel Bird Sanctuary - August 2018