Nature A few spring birds

A few spring birds · **2 Likes**

We're seeing some new birds, and new bird activity, with the return of springtime to East Tennessee!

Killdeer are already on the nest. This one, spotted by some sharp-eyed first graders at a nearby school, was sitting on four eggs.

Here's one of our many spring migrants. We only see the Horned Grebes at the home park lake for a few days each March. This one already has its summer plumage.

But this one must be an immature bird - still looks like the winter plumage. These grebes are just as shy as our (much more abundant) Pied Billed Grebes. And they're just as good at diving and swimming away underwater!

Hope to have more views of our springtime feathered friends to share. Thanks for any comments & critique!

**Jacquot** · 03-25-2014, 06:54 PM

Great shots of the Killdeer and Grebe! I can't wait to see some spring activity here. Very soon.

Westoz · 03-25-2014, 09:37 PM

Great sharp shots especially liked the Killdeer.

bscott · 03-26-2014, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by mole

We're seeing some new birds, and new bird activity, with the return of springtime to East Tennessee!

Killdeer are already on the nest. This one, spotted by some sharp-eyed first graders at a nearby school, was sitting on four eggs.

Here's one of our many spring migrants. We only see the Horned Grebes at the home park lake for a few days each March. This one already has its summer plumage.

But this one must be an immature bird - still looks like the winter plumage. These grebes are just as shy as our (much more abundant) Pied Billed Grebes. And they're just as good at diving and swimming away underwater!

Hope to have more views of our springtime feathered friends to share. Thanks for any comments & critique!

Love the shots of the Killdeer

CreationBear · 03-26-2014, 07:04 AM

Originally posted by bscott

Love the shots of the Killdeer

+1.

That was a very considerate bird to pose for the 100mm instead of going into the "broken-wing" routine.

hnikesch · 03-26-2014, 07:48 AM

You always get those sharp images Mole, nice shots

slowpez · 03-26-2014, 11:46 AM

Have enjoyed all your spring threads ranger. Got to get up to the mountains but it doesn't look like we will make it this spring. At least I can go along with you and I appreciate that. Wonderful shots as always from you.

mole · 03-26-2014, 05:46 PM

Jacquot - Hope your Springtime arrives very soon!

Ed - She sure was a poser!!

Bscott - Thanks!

CreationBear - Best technique I've found for Killdeer nest shots is to lay flat and just crawl over. They seem to be less threatened when I stay very low, and move rather slowly. In this case, it was necessary because the longest lens I had with me was the 100mm!

Hans - Thanks so much!

Susan - Glad you like the "second hand" spring hikes, but hope you'll be able to make your own sometime soon!

OnTheWeb · 03-26-2014, 06:32 PM

Great shots. Our pied-billed grebes are so smoking fast and elusive that for a few weeks I thought it was a water snake... I could never get anywhere near it.... it would just disappear and show up very far away

mole
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by mole
	Find threads started by mole
	Find threads in which mole has posted

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature A few Spring birds through the front window	boriscleto	Post Your Photos!	0	03-23-2014 11:04 AM
Nature a few birds	tittermary	Post Your Photos!	3	12-01-2013 09:02 AM
Nature A few birds	coreyhkh	Post Your Photos!	6	05-28-2012 12:08 PM
Nature A few Birds	coreyhkh	Post Your Photos!	8	05-02-2012 11:28 AM
Nature A few spring birds	wildman	Post Your Photos!	6	04-05-2010 03:09 PM

03-25-2014, 06:54 PM	#2
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Great shots of the Killdeer and Grebe! I can't wait to see some spring activity here. Very soon.

03-25-2014, 09:37 PM	#3
Westoz Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 470	Great sharp shots especially liked the Killdeer.

03-26-2014, 05:39 AM	#4
bscott Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 482	Originally posted by mole We're seeing some new birds, and new bird activity, with the return of springtime to East Tennessee! Killdeer are already on the nest. This one, spotted by some sharp-eyed first graders at a nearby school, was sitting on four eggs. Here's one of our many spring migrants. We only see the Horned Grebes at the home park lake for a few days each March. This one already has its summer plumage. But this one must be an immature bird - still looks like the winter plumage. These grebes are just as shy as our (much more abundant) Pied Billed Grebes. And they're just as good at diving and swimming away underwater! Hope to have more views of our springtime feathered friends to share. Thanks for any comments & critique! Love the shots of the Killdeer

03-26-2014, 07:04 AM	#5
CreationBear Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 2,415	Originally posted by bscott Love the shots of the Killdeer +1. That was a very considerate bird to pose for the 100mm instead of going into the "broken-wing" routine.

03-26-2014, 07:48 AM	#6
hnikesch Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,316	You always get those sharp images Mole, nice shots

03-26-2014, 11:46 AM	#7
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Have enjoyed all your spring threads ranger. Got to get up to the mountains but it doesn't look like we will make it this spring. At least I can go along with you and I appreciate that. Wonderful shots as always from you.

03-26-2014, 05:46 PM	#8
mole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tennessee Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,432 Original Poster	Jacquot - Hope your Springtime arrives very soon! Ed - She sure was a poser!! Bscott - Thanks! CreationBear - Best technique I've found for Killdeer nest shots is to lay flat and just crawl over. They seem to be less threatened when I stay very low, and move rather slowly. In this case, it was necessary because the longest lens I had with me was the 100mm! Hans - Thanks so much! Susan - Glad you like the "second hand" spring hikes, but hope you'll be able to make your own sometime soon!

03-26-2014, 06:32 PM	#9
OnTheWeb Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 791	Great shots. Our pied-billed grebes are so smoking fast and elusive that for a few weeks I thought it was a water snake... I could never get anywhere near it.... it would just disappear and show up very far away