I Have Cooties!

Yup...two of them in fact.  I am obsessed with two American Coots at the harbour in Cobourg.  My experience with Coots to date has been to barely catch a glimpse.  I've found them to be elusive and they don't tend to hang around people. 

But this pair in Cobourg live with the gulls, mallards and geese right next to the parking lot on the beach and they fit right in.  They are oblivious to people which is why I was laying on a dock in the f-f-f-reezing cold today trying to get a few shots. 

They are tricky to photography because they are so dark and the sun was brilliant today.  As you can see, their eyes are red so the sun has to reflect just so or you end up throwing tons of photos away.  I got lucky a couple of times and it was fun to spend time with them.

It is hard to tell in these photos but they have GIANT feet in proportion to the rest of their body.

Here are a few Coot facts that I didn't know:
* They are in the Rail family.
* Also called Marsh or Mud Hen.
* The females often lay eggs in the nests of others (even if they have a nest of their own)
* A group of Coots is called a "Cover" or "Raft"

In this article it says that Coots can become tame if they hang around other birds that are fed (I'm guessing feeding takes place in Cobourg as it does in most harbours).
http://birding.about.com/od/birdprofiles/p/American-Coot.htm

All in all, a great experience with two really neat birds!

This week's rare glimpses (and a few oldies but goodies!)

The lighting has not cooperated the last few days but it's been very exciting as far as critters go. 

This morning I spent time with this beautiful Eastern Coyote.  He was with a friend, who bolted when I drove by, but this guy was every bit as curious about me as I was of him.  He was so calm that he even lay down at one point watching me, and then proceeded to go about his business as if I wasn't there.

I've yet to go out in intense snow and not see a coyote - not sure what drives them out in that weather (then again, not sure what drives ME out in that weather) but it is always rewarding. 

Five Northern Harriers were playing in the fields in Newcastle (two were male) and teased me into thinking I'd get a killer shot.  The joke was on me - those birds sure can accelerate in high winds! 

A visit to the harbour in Cobourg was also rewarding.  I was greeted at my car...not by a gull or mallard but by an American Coot!  There were actually two of them resting on the beach with the gulls, mallards and geese.  I've seen many coots but certainly not lying with other birds.

At that same waterfront someone pointed out a Mew Gull.  It took me a while to see the difference between a Mew and Ring-Billed - the Mew is smaller with a yellow bill.  Very pretty gull.  Apparently this is a HUGE deal in the birding community as it is a European bird so I was definitely in the right place at the right time.

The Mew is the gull on the left, getting yelled at by the Ring-Billed.

On Tuesday, Ann, Janice and I went out to Nanticoke to see what we could see.  Such a thrill (and a blast!).  We saw a few Bald Eagles - one was an adult - stunning!  Many other critters too.  The shots were bad but the sightings and company were great.  Despite Ann's best efforts, we did not get arrested (though we were stopped by the police...twice! ;)

Monday was an impromptu outing.  I met up with Janice and we enjoyed several Hooded Mergansers at Lynde Shores.  The boys were doing all they could to impress the girls with some very erratic head bobbing and vocalizing which frankly would scare me if I was a girl Merganser!  It was very cute to watch though.

Another first this week was a flock of flying Tundra Swans.  They were racing me in the field next to the road in Whitby (they won by a landslide).   They circled the pond many times, vocalizing all the way. 

Last but certainly not least, I had wonderful adventures and photo opps with this beautiful White-Tailed Deer, and a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks last weekend.  We live in such a great area!

My Boys

Despite my best efforts, I pretty much struck out on a quick drive in north Durham except for a LOT of crows, and a beautiful coyote who streaked across a field kicking up snow.  You'd think that would have made a great shot but when the camera is accidentally set to manual focus, well let's just say it was one that got away.  I didn't feel too bad though because he was way off in the distance, so instead of clicking away madly I just enjoyed watching him.

A Chickadee felt sorry for me and took a minute to pose before heading back to the seed pile that someone had scattered for him and his buddies.

Determined to take a photo of SOMETHING canine I enlisted my own resident coyote decendents, Osgrrr and Johnny, into yet another backyard photo shoot. 

"Osgrrr"

"Johnny"