My owl friends: Flexibility is the Key

I was very excited for today! I had the whole day to do whatever I wanted. So I decided

to go photographing all morning and then get Hazel out for a hike in the afternoon.

My plan was to go down to my favorite spot so I was up by 6am, got Hazel and the kitties fed and was ready to head out the door. I took a minute to check e-mails and I'm so glad I did. I got word that the owlet was in a good place for pics. So I detoured over to see the owls before heading down to Lakewood.

It took me a minute to find the owlet. The soft morning light was perfect!

Cher was close by getting harassed by a couple of blue jays. She kept an eye on them but did not seem overly concerned.

The two owlets in the nest were waking up too...

All was calm with the owls, so I hopped in the car and drove down to Lakewood and my favorite spot. There was a pair of green winged teals as I started my lap around the big pond.

After enjoying the teals, I was hoping to see an avocet and there it was! Yeah! I just saw one so hopefully it's mate is around or will arrive soon.

The red winged blackbirds were in full song!

As I continued down the trail, I spotted a beautiful female green winged teal

Further down there was a gadwall stretching those beautiful wings.....

And there was a pair of cinnamon teals, blue winged teals and green winged teals all together......very cool!

A song sparrow was singing his heart out!

Then a house finch flew in and posed for me.....

I headed over to the back pond and a pair of redhead ducks were there!

There was a tree full of these grackles....

I heard the goldfinches singing and this sweet female posed for me....

It was a bit chilly around 50'. I was walking along the path and there were 2 garter snakes laying in the middle of the path absorbing the warmth....

This one seems to have a bulge, so maybe he just had breakfast....

The wind had really picked up, so it was time to go home. I stopped by Prospect to check on the owls and all is well.....

I thought I was done photographing for the day but I decided to stop over at the owl nest this evening. It was very cloudy, so I was hoping there would not be all the photographers around. I was right, it was nice and quiet, so I could enjoy the owls. Here are the two still in the nest...