Park Life...

I had a hot tip that there were some "easy" Wood Ducks to be had in High Park, so, after school I took James there for a combined photo session and dinner in the park sorta thing. We had a great time - and even found the said easy ducks.

I've seen many Wood Ducks in my time but rarely have I looked at them in such detail, and so close, as we did yesterday. They are gorgeous! The drake above could have been photographed with a point-and-shoot! In fact the boy did reel off a few with his little coolpix...


Being the strange kinda person that likes sparrows and tyrant flycatchers I have to say that I prefer the female Wood Duck over the male. The subtle colors, antbird-like white eye-ring, marbled flanks and striking blue wing markings create an arresting vision...


James spotted this lovely adult Black-crowned Night-Heron on the edge of the duck pond in the SE corner of the park. We watched it for some time as it preened in front of us. Trouble was there was a fence between us and it, so obtaining nice photos was a bit of a challenge. Got there in the end, sort of...


The cherry blossom was in full swing and there were large numbers of Japanese admirers all taking photos of the scene. Above one such tree was this singing male Orchard Oriole. Was always high up and all I could get were a few record shots. I'll go back and try again for this dark beauty.


Lastly a male Common Grackle. Great looking birds even if they are as common as muck!