Saturday's postcard, and a very curious noise in the thicket

June 1, 2024

The great natural amphitheater at Dry Falls, with Umatilla Rock in the center

Of birds, and cameras

For reasons I won’t belabor, I’m in pretty good shape to write, but am still lagging on the physical condition I would like to be in when the I dive back into the Spokane River with my camera (god-willing) this month. Among other adventures, I’m eager to see if I can start a new aquatic relationship with a trout, maybe even Gordo, who let me swim with him last year.

In the meantime, I’ve been spending time in brush and woods trying to photograph birds, mostly. I’m omnivorous when it comes to nature photography. I start with an idea of what I’d like to do and then try to adjust to what actually happens. Sometimes it’s a beautiful snake. Sometimes it’s a moose. Sometimes it will be an odd duck. I try to keep an open mind.

Munching moose in morning light, earlier this week

Yesterday, it was three hours tracking orioles and warblers, mostly. I wasn’t very lucky. A colorful male oriole flew across the river just as I was bringing my camera to my eye. The warblers were tending their nest nearby but also being buzzed (as I often am) by Calliope hummingbirds, who weigh less than 3 grams but still behave like they own the hectare of space around their favored perches. It’s comical except when these bug-sized hummers dive bomb the warblers just as you’re training your lens on the larger bird.

Male Yellow Warbler photographed yesterday

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—tjc