Laura

River Otters- we were standing on a dam watching Trumpeter swans, Sandhill cranes and a variety of ducks on one side of the dam. The other side is a long winding marsh with sections of open water. I was taking photos of the marsh, and all of the sudden 4 otters appeared. I wasn't able to get a photo of all 4 at once, the little stinkers were having too much fun swimming and diving.

Thanks!

The photos were taken at Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin last week. The bird was really quite far away, and it stayed in the reeds and cattails, so it was tricky getting a photo of it.

I've seen White-breasted Nuthatch's and Black-capped Chickadees puff up their feathers like this. It usually happens when there are other nuthatches, or chickadees near by. What usually happens is the bird that doesn't have puffed up feathers eventually leaves, but not always. Sometimes the 'puffy' one leaves, and there have been times when both birds puff up and they both leave! Anyway, I think it's some birdy body language that communicates dominance, or a challenge to a dominant bird. Whatever the reason, it cracks me up and reminds me of the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

This hummingbird was perched on this branch that's near the hummingbird feeder. As I was photographing it, I noticed it looked like it kept dozing off- a hard, busy day of defending the feeder. All of the sudden the mood changed and it began posturing- another hummingbird was in the tree, close to the feeder and this little bird took off like a rocket and returned a few minutes later, and reclaimed the feeder rights, at least for a few minutes.

This is a Ruby-throated hummingbird. I spotted it perched on that branch. When I saw it, I wondered what it was- it was small and shaped like a hummingbird, but the colors were off. I thought it was a trick of the light filtering through the trees and clouds, but when I looked at it through my camera lens, and later when I looked at them on my laptop, it was clear the colors are as they're pictured. I think it's a male, based on the feathers on the throat. But it was odd, because no matter where his throated was aimed- in the sun or not, the colors didn't change like normal- red-orange, etc. 8_24_2022 Hummingbird Odd colors DSC_8193.jpg.dop

Yep..?sorry

Juvenile Chipping Sparrow

Hi, Ed honestly Broad-winged was my first guess, but I didnt see the front it, and it seemed to be a bit too dark overall. I actually did see the photo you linked to when I was searching but the head feathers seemed so much lighter. But, that said the banding on the tail doesn't match a RS, and I didn't catch that at all. Thanks for the help.

I always have a hard time identifying hawks, but I usually end up getting it right after searching through my books and online. This one has me stumped. I never got a look of the front of the bird. This photo was taken today in Minnesota. My inclination is a Red-shouldered.