Happy February! I hope you are staying warm and reading some wonderful books. It’s been a bit chilly where I am lately, so I’ve definitely been indulging in some indoor reading and not so much birdwatching.
Something that I find funny about birdwatching is that one of the best times to do it is in the winter when the trees have lost their leaves, but it’s also the coldest time of the year. I decided to brave the cold and go for a short hike not too long before Valentine’s Day to see if I could catch sight of a belted kingfisher. They are local to my area, and I live just a short drive to a wetland with an elevated walking path.
Despite the conditions being promising, I never got to see my belted kingfisher, but I did see several great blue herons (several adults and one plume-less juvenile) along with a large spattering of mallards. And while these weren’t exactly the birds that I had gone out searching for, I still had a wonderful time.
My favorite moment was when I was able to watch a pair of mallards walking across the icy shallows. They ended up “taking the plunge” and landing in the water unexpectedly (at least I didn’t think they were expecting it). I thought it was fitting for the month dedicated to romantic love and commitment.
Anyway, stay warm! And I’ll post again soon.
Nicolette Harpford 