Spooner Lake July 2011
Another visit to Lake Tahoe and it seemed appropriate to go in search of the white-headed woodpecker again. It also seemed appropriate to return to the scene of the first sighting, Spooner Lake. I like this lake because it's about a 2 mile walk round it which is about the max that I can do in a day. I did see a female white-headed woodpecker during this visit, but only as it flew past me and I didn't see where it went, so didn't manage to get any photographs.
The spectical of the day belonged to an Osprey that was feeding on the lake. It did hit the water in front of me at one point whilst I was seated. I had my camera and clicked away, but unfortunately it missed the fish. I was really hoping to get one of those amazing photos where the bird is taking away a large fish in its talons. Sadly, it wasn't to be, but I did get some good shots as it passed overhead later during the walk.
Cutey-Pie of the day goes to the long-tailed weasel that ran in front of me, climbed a tree and then started to peak at me from around the trunk. I got some pictures of it peeking at me, but it also allowed me to take some photos when I walked around the tree trunk. I think this little chap beats the chipmunks on the cuteness front. And it's certainly less prevalent.
There is one dubious photo and that is of the hairy woodpecker. I'm not sure this is a woodpecker, but one of the patrol people that stopped to talk to me told me that this was the bird among the trees on the boardwalk. Given how poor the photo is, I probably won't get challenged on it, so I'll leave it as described for now. Photos are of:
- American Robin
- Brewer's Blackbird
- Brown Headed Cowbird
- Canada Goose
- Gadwall
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Mallard
- Mountain Chickadee
- Osprey
- Pygmy Nuthatch
- Steller's Jay
- Western Grebe
- Western Tanager
- Western Wood-Peewee
- White-Breasted Nuthatch
- Yellow-Rumped Warbler
No white-headed woodpecker today, but would I get to see a white-headed woodpecker on the second day?
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