Commentary, nature, Photography

New Year’s Birds

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While out for our New Year’s Day constitutional, we saw lots of birds.

First, there were some quail. I always find them hard to photograph because they’re so quick and they blend in so well. I love that cute little head feather.

Next, we saw lots of coots with their distinctive white beaks. They were very happily swimming along, looking for a bit to eat here and there. Suddenly, we saw the coots madly scrambling away to a pier, half swimming, half flying. And then we saw the reason why.

A bald eagle was swooping low, attempting to grab a straggler. I didn’t get a picture of the frightened coots because I was mesmerised by the unfolding drama, but I was able to get a couple of shots of this amazing raptor.

The coots were able to hide in the lee of a pier, thus preventing the eagle from getting a good angle on a quick snatch, and once he saw that he was out of luck, he quickly headed away. M and I were amazed at what we had just seen, though!

Happy Tuesday.

22 thoughts on “New Year’s Birds”

  1. Wow! What high drama while out on your walk! I’ve never seen so many coots together, usually just one or two. The photos of the bald eagle are incredible and must have been amazing to see in real life. Phew, glad the coots all managed to safely seek sanctuary. Happy New Year! Annika x

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    1. Thank you very much, Annika.
      Yes, it sure was! I think we were staring, open-mouthed, as the coots scrambled for safety and the eagle swooped them about four times. It’s surprising that the eagle didn’t get one of them, but they were also smart about getting into the lee of a pier where the eagle couldn’t get to them. Very dramatic!

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    1. It was, and surprising, too! These little quail are now ubiquitous throughout the Okanagan. They were brought to Washington from California in the 1860s and from there moved to the Okanagan Valley, so technically, they are invasive. They’ve been here so long though and fit in so well that they’re completely integrated now however. I don’t think they’re anywhere else in Canada.

      The coots are water birds native to BC and the prairies. They usually migrate and the Okanagan is one of the areas where they overwinter, so we can get huge numbers of them here.

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  4. I love photographing birds. The coots are a funny bunch Lynette. They are in perfect hiding in the reeds in spring, protecting the nest. You would not even know they were there, but then they start making their protective “gronking” sounds and pop out into the open, likely trying to distract. I imagine the fall and winter hunting season for the eagles can eb a bit easier, once the leaves are gone. The quail might be more to his taste though. Have a great day. Allan

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    1. Thanks, Allan.
      I agree. I haven’t seen them all that often in the summer – a few here and there – but there are huge numbers of them here now because this is one of their overwintering areas. Certainly the large numbers of them out on an open lake must look like a buffet to a hungry eagle as the quail hide so well. Even when they’re in the open, quail are always very near bushes and trees. I still haven’t been able to get a good photo of them. My understanding is that they are hunted by owls, magpies and ravens. Cheers.

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