Spring is in the air.

It is an unusually early spring here in the great northern state of Alaska. We are seeing record early migrations around the state. That's music to my ears! I am thrilled to see the return of my feathered friends and I want to shoot them all. With my camera that is.

Activity has been amping up since my last post. Last week I finally got to see and photograph a Barrow's Goldeneye. These ducks are distinctive from their Common cousins in a blueish head plumage and more distinctive, closed white bars on the wings.



The Trumpeter Swans are back at many local lakes and ponds, I've had several opportunities to shoot them and that has been a blast. They are such beautiful birds. Another local to return is the Herring Gulls. I never thought I would be happy to see them, but they are a welcome contrast to the wintering Common Ravens that are so abundant around here.

Another spot I checked out last week was in South Anchorage at a park I visited quite a bit last year. There I saw a few Brown Creepers and was able to get some of my best shots to date of the evasive little buggers. I always have fun shooting Creepers as they corkscrew around tree trunks, zipping here and there. A real challenge, and I love a good challenge. Especially when it comes to bird photography. After shooting the Creepers I went to another spot in South Anchorage not to far away that featured an active Bald Eagle nest. One of the eagles was sitting on a branch near the nest preening itself as the wind made for a good blow dryer. I walked around quite a bit trying to get the best angle for capturing it. I finally had a good angle and was taking photos when a small falcon glided over and perched on a branch above the eagle. It only stayed for a moment, but it was long enough for me to get a few photos. However, I was not zoomed in all the way and by the time I adjusted it was gone. I was glad for what I got though and the falcon turned out to be a Merlin which is a first for this year so I was thrilled.

Yesterday, I visited an area I had been planning on going for a few weeks now but had not made it over there. But I finally made it. I went initially looking for owls, as it has thick, dense black spruce which is ideal habitat for small owls. Initially I found some Golden-crowned Kinglets which cooperated as I shot a session with them, then continued on exploring the area. Well, I didn't find any owls, but as I walked through the woods, to my surprise (I almost walked right up to it which would have scared it off) was a woodpecker with a yellow patch on his forehead. I got a good look at it's back which was all black and I knew immediately it was a Black-backed Woodpecker! My heart raced, I couldn't believe it. What a thrill to see a bird I had been wanting to see for months. And it was right in front of me, completely ignoring me as I shot it repeatedly. I ran out of disc space on my camera, but I got some great shots and I walked away happy.

I am also happy to report that my daughter was born on March 22, at 12:06 p.m. She weighed 7 lbs, 14 oz and was 19.5" long. She is growing and getting that baby chub already. She's a delightful little baby girl and we could not be more thrilled. her brother loves her too and is adjusting to being an older brother and no longer an only child.

I will head out birding again today, and with so many birds returning, who knows what I will see! Each day is an adventure. Being out in the woods makes me feel alive.

That's all I've got for now, get out there and explore, who knows what you will find. And as always, keep your eyes to the trees, and your binoculars handy.