Bird's Island

Let's go around the lake... And look for birds (and more). We'll start with a hike around Standley Lake, and continue through the City park, and end with a walk around Belmar Lake. Yep, I will mix the pictures together and... the landscapes may be a little different, but the birds in all three places are very similar... so there's no point in separating them ;)

 

The views are breathtaking... the mountains on the back, bike trails and bare trees just at the distance of my hand... A perfect Saturday hike, isn't it?

Cormorants are busy collecting food and wood.

The geese are chasing each other before settling in shallow waters and stretching their wings.

The peaks are still covered with snow although the air downhills is really warm.

The woodpecker is looking for something delicious ;) And... he was able to gather some worms and looked very pleased with what he found ;)

In the center of each lake there is a cormorant island. Some safe place where these gorgeous birds can build their nests and not be disturbed by annoying visitors...

I love these mallard ducks. The male is so colorful and protective :)

And the turtles... We found an adorable family, enjoying the warm evening sun at Belmar Lake and they just paid no attention to the attention they were getting while basking in the sun ;)

Cormorants in flight are something special. I never get tired of watching them circle with their wings spreaded wide...

As I already said, lumber is of great importance for building nests, and every second bird in the air was carrying some in their beak.

Blue sky, white clouds and trees. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the mountains and snow peaks ;)

Another home ground of cormorants.

Here is the adorable turtle family I was talking about :)

Cormorants are very sociable. Just look at them - they are all talking to each other (and, by the way, quite loudly).

- GET AWAY OF MY GIRL!

- She is MINE! I don't want you here!

- I'll KILL you! Get your ass out of here!

- I hear you, I hear you... I'm running away as fast as I can! I won't come back!

"I said bring some fresh fish! Why don't you ever listen? Not only did you find a twig instead, you also lost it while flying, you klutz!"

"Drink in this view!" Sorry about the fisherman who stepped in my glass (yep, he is real). I didn't notice he came ;)

Click here to see a dedicated cormorant post from the last year ;) - A day of cormorant's life.

Or here for some more cormorant with the company of snow egrets :) - Black and white...

The pictures were taken April 12-13, 2024.