Pictures for Pam, Day 175: Red-Winged Blackbird on Upper Klamath Lake Canoe Trail

(+ 2 insets!)

The days are beautiful now but it's still just above freezing on most mornings. By the time I get inside from my walk my poor fingers are numb! Ok, ok...I admit that my warm gloves are in our RV and I'm too lazy to go get them. So I've been using my lightweight gloves and they are laughably inadequate for the job. The result is that I have to sit by the heater to thaw my fingers out or put them in a basin of hot water until they're happy again. Sheesh, you would think that my fingers could handle 37-45 degree temperatures without screaming bloody murder. Noop. Ten little babies pitch a fit every day!

This morning I thought I'd be clever. I put on TWO pairs of thin gloves, figuring that would do the trick. *sounds a FAIL buzzer* It was almost zero difference at all! Tromping into the house my ears were ringing with all of the screaming going on. Well, maybe I should stop being stubborn and get my warm gloves. Guaranteed that the morning I put them on it will be too warm outside to wear them and I'll be chucking them to the porch after my first lap! HAH!

Today I'm posting several pictures from our canoe trip on Upper Klamath Lake. There were Red-Winged Blackbirds all over the place as we paddled along and the sunlight really made their shoulder patches glow a brilliant red and orange. This is the first time I've gotten the chance to get some good pictures of these beautiful birds. There is a pair which is now showing up at our feeders but they are a) never in good light and b) sitting on our feeder (phooey) so I haven't been lucky with them. Plus, the shoulder patches on our birds are much more orange with just a sliver of red. It's a remarkable difference!

My main picture is a male who has puffed his feathers up and is making its characteristic song. It's the only time they seem to get hugely fluffy like this and I was overjoyed when I discovered this picture had turned out! If you would like to see these birds making their song, here's a YouTube video!

I am also including a couple of other pictures that turned out well! I'm so happy that I now have pictures of this lovely bird!

Pam, do you get Red-Winged Blackbirds where you live? I did a search on your stream but didn't see any. I did find a lovely picture of a Grackle and holy cow is that a looker! I love how "black" on a bird is "iridescent rainbow" in the right light! Stunning. I sure do hope you had a good day. Thank you so much for your comments about my pictures, I'm so glad that you have been enjoying them! It makes my day! *hugs*

Explored on 5/4/19, highest placement, #5.