February 08, 2011

Ankeny NWR

Yesterday I visited Ankeny NWR for the first time. I went with my good friend Laura who has been there many times and leads Audubon classes there a couple of times a year.


We got lucky and got a bit of sunshine and only a few showers.



I was glad to have a scope to look through, as most of the viewing is out on the water and a bit far away for binoculars. Because of that, I didn't get many bird photos.




We saw a lot of waterfowl.



Northern Pintails were abundant. Such beauties!


The skies were dark at times and shortly after this we got poured on!




The view from a mossy blind....



There were tons of tweety birds on the trail to the blind. I think we counted over 10 species including Bushtits, lots of Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Brown Creepers.

They flitted around as they gleaned insects off the mossy branches. Even sparrows were moving through looking for food under the moss.
Bushtit....





And a Brown Creeper.

All in all a *great* day. we saw 43 species and had a wonderful time!

6 comments:

  1. Great recap! I had a marvelous time. Don't forget the cutie Acorn Woodpecker!

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  2. Nice Brown Creeper pic! They are hard to shot.

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  3. Such amazingly beautiful pictures again! Makes me sigh....

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  4. Ooh it looks like you had a great day even with a little rain! The Bushtit is adorable- great shot! If that mossy bird blind is the one I'm thinking of, it always gives me the creeps!

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  5. You got some great photos using the scope. I think I need one. My favorite picture is the moss-roofed blind.
    nellie

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  6. definitely looks like a great day!

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