wynaturalist's Favorites

The Osprey dove and caught a fish. Almost immediately the Bald Eagle materialized and pursued the Osprey (Osprey Observation here). I didn't see the outcome because almost simultaneously, a Least Bittern flushed near my feet. The bittern was a lifer so I had to get it! This was all within a few minutes of leaving my car, so I knew it would be a good day!

October Big Day birding at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, Richmond County, Georgia. October 8, 2022.

• Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
• Sunrise 7:27 am; Sunset 7:03 pm
• Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 36 minutes (-2m 1s)
• Moon: 98.1% Waxing Gibbous
• Fifty-two bird species in one location! https://ebird.org/checklist/S120404524

This would be a fine observation if I had thought to record the alarmed coughing sound it was making. No stamping though. In reality it was clear to see. The second photo shows his flag as a white blur.

As I was taking a picture of this female Common Merganser (Gänsesäger) in the channel at the entry of Nymphenburg Palace, she suddenly raced away with her bill and eyes under water. I first thought she was chasing Black-headed Gulls, but she surfaced with a Chub that was so large and heavy that she lost her grip on it. She must have stunned the fish, because she pulled it out again after searching for it under water. This time, she didn’t only struggle with the weight of the fish, she was also surrounded by excited Gulls who wanted to get a bite. The Merganser tried in vein to get airborne with the heavy load, and eventually had to drop her prey… She seemed pumped up and excited after this catch and shook her feathers and flapped her wings for a bit. And then she continued her search.
For the Chub: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34861851

My family encountered this fox along the side of the road while driving the Top of the World Highway, a few miles after the Alaskan border, in the Yukon Territories. This fox was extremely curious, running up to our car and posing in the middle of the road.