Here are a few more marsh birds. Yellow-headed Blackbird, Common Goldeneye with a flock of babies, hatch year Pied-billed Grebe, Eastern Kingbird, a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, American Coots and Gray Catbird. We had a fair amount of rain that day but also some sun breaks.
Winter is not a great time for bird diversity in Yellowstone. We probably saw less than a dozen species of birds. Bald and Golden Eagles, American Robin, Barrow’s and Common Goldeneyes, Mallards, American Dipper, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie. I think that’s all.
The goldeneyes were in small mixed groups, diving and feeding most of the time and easily seen from the road. The dippers were busy too, flying up and down the stream, calling to each other. Only once did I get a chance to make photos of them.
This morning started out to be another ho,t still day, similar to yesterday. At Patterson Lake, birds were singing, insects buzzing and a few early risers were out fishing and stretching their muscles on the water. I paddled my kayak from one end to the other and back, listening to birds and buzzing insects from the trees. I saw an Osprey catch a fish; heard woodpeckers tapping on trees; saw turtles sunning themselves on logs. It was a good morning to be out on the water.
a Common Goldeneye chick
Here the chick is reunited with its family
I saw this moth thrashing around in the water
and brought it onto my boat to dry its tattered leaves.
Later I left it in a tree.
My Everyday Photos 