Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Common Terns

Common Tern
Sterna hirundo

These small, graceful terns dive to catch fish, 
and were once call "sea swallows".


Almost everybody's back!  But I'm still on the lookout for the
resident Osprey, and for these little beauties!
Yes, this is in the harbor in front of my house,
taken last summer while paddling around
in my kayak.

Day before yesterday, a Red-winged Blackbird appeared at my 
feeder to let me know he had returned, and this morning
a Willet was noisily flying across my meadow!

THEN?  The warblers will return and pepper my stand
of willows!!  But I'll not wish the time away
as I wait, for spring isn't long enough.
(It would be nice, however, if the weather cooperated!)

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13 comments:

Just Ramblin' said...

Karen, how wonderful to have all these little visitor's and to be able to hop in your kayak and paddle around. It must be heavenly! If you get a chance one day, take some pictures of the surrounding area and post them. It would be fun to see the area you live in. I'm guessing it is to die for. Nola

Johnny Nutcase said...

terns are SO much fun to watch. i used to do some shorebird research and would have to gingerly walk thru some of their nesting sites and would get bombed by them! Hope the warblers come back soon :)

NatureFootstep said...

terns is one of my favourite birds. I love the way they act in the air. :)

Anonymous said...

I like the blue colour in this lovely photo! :)

KaHolly said...

Hi Nola, thanks for stopping by. I just e-mailed you!!

Jill, glad to see you. The terns aren't at all tolerant of anyone anywhere near their nesting sites, are they? They have a nesting ground in the next harbor down, and when I pass by on my kayak, no matter how far I try to stay from them, they go beserk!

N.F., I am so pleased to see you here today! I always think of you as my double, you with your red kayak like mine!

Hi Tina, thanks for the nice comment. Our water is a beautiful color up here. I don't have a program to doctor my photos, so what you see is what you get. I'm pretty lucky! ~karen

eileeninmd said...

Lovely photo, I am so happy the warblers are moving thru and the shorebirds are back.

penny said...

It sounds like you live in a wonderful world surrounded by beautiful birds. It must be nice to paddle around the harbor and enjoy the wildlife.

ksdoolittle said...

Eileen, Thank you. It has been a long wait!

Pam, It is a delightful place to live, but if you want to read about a wonderful place, check out http://arroyocoloradoriverblog.blogspot.com/. It's a birder's paradise and a well written blog with beautiful photos to accompany the dialogue!! ~karen

Kay Baughman said...

Karen,
I'm glad your birds are returning home! The terns are great--what an interesting picture. I clicked on it so I could get good looks at them all grooming and looking around. The water looks delightfully cool, so blue! While watching the terns and swallows fly over the river, I can see how the terns could have been called sea swallows--both graceful fliers.
Kay

Anonymous said...

i know what you mean..i want all of spring and want it now...michelle

FAB said...

Hi Karen. Your post reminded me that I need to get out and find some of these charming long distance flyers. I hope the weather brings your awaited Warblers soon. FAB.

christopher said...

The wildlife that crosses your doorstep is astounding.

Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Terns...the advertisements say that Paradise is in The Bahamas...but your photo log says differently.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh, what a beautiful place you live in!