May, 2022
Here we go again … more driving! In the past few days we’ve been south of the dam, then north of the dam, then south to the sagebrush … and now north again today! north again to that far watery north corner of the Potholes Reservoir in seach of just a few more birds. Yes, we missed the majority of the traveling/migrating birds this year, but there were other birds that were reported to be seen here and we hoped to see them. Indeed, after a bit of searching, we found them. 🙂
The drive through this area at the northern edge of the Potholes Reservoir is so beautiful and peaceful.
In the photo below, you can see the edge of a wooden “blind” where people can stand or sit and watch birds through cracks or slits in the wood and so not bother the birds hardly at all. But there weren’t many birds here, and no other humans, so I stood outside next to the structure, with a better view of the surrounding environment. Just to the left of center, off in the distance, were three Great Egrets. Big birds. Look closely, they are way over there.
Around another corner or two or three on the gravel road, there was yet another Great Egret (below). Keep in mind that we never got “off idle” in the truck, and often I simply took the truck out of gear and drifted along the road, stopping often … and often turning the engine off.
Again, yet another Great Egret below.
And yet another! This one obviously did not want her photo taken.
But then around another corner and along another waterway, this one below appeared. I shut the truck’s engine off immediately, with the truck still rolling along, but we stopped safely. What a magical, beautiful being!
We saw seven Great Egrets, and we were happy! We continued on along the road to the gate that blocked the road, then we turned around and then headed back out. BUT, as we passed that large waterway with all the sticks floating in it … remember that? … we found a whole mess of these delightful Yellow-Headed Black Birds dancing around on the sticks and feeding. They were zippy fast!!
Click on each photo to enlarge the photos above. For the two short videos below, click on the small square thing in the bottom right corner to enlarge the videos.
We were thrilled to see those birds, but we had one more encounter yet to enjoy. We were driving along the gravel road and were almost out of the water-filled Potholes Reservoir area, but with one last turn in the road we came upon one more large waterway on the left. Coots! American Coots, more precisely. 🙂
With spring-time high water, it was spectacular here. I’m not sure I’d want to come here any other time of year, since the water level drops throughout the rest of spring and then thoughout summer and into autumn as well. But maybe the next time my friend and I come over the Cascade Mountains for a visit here, we’ll come a bit earlier … in late April instead of late May. It will be colder. But maybe we’ll see some migrating birds. That would be super. And on the next trip, we’ll be sure to bring our chairs so we can sit and watch in comfort. 🙂
One more short set of photos from the trip is coming soon here, then we’ll be heading home.
Just the kind of place we love! I have never seen such a beautiful yellow headed blackbird! Also never heard of it! Stunning!
Thanks Lisa. I love following your blog for the same reason … different country, different birds, different experiences, I learn a lot!!
Love the birds. Love photo #3.
The birds are wonderful aren’t they. Glad you like #3, it’s my favorite. 🙂
I grew up in central Washington and hung out around Potholes and I don’t remember seeing these birds, but then I don’t remember really noticing ANY birds. Too young I guess. 🙂 They are stunning. Makes me wonder what I’m not seeing here in Nevada.
No kidding, I don’t remember seeing birds when I was a kid growing up on the water around Puget Sound (except for the bazillions of seagulls) and yet there had to be lots of other birds here way back then.
Beautiful, even more so than the first time you were there a few days ago. The birds are gorgeous. But the water and trees and skies are too. I’m pulling up a chair on the edge of the gravel road in front of those sticks in the water and am going to just sit and watch those Yellow-Heads romp and roam. 🙂
Ha! Joe, I sure like the idea (who started it a few blogs ago?) of sitting in a chair out here and just watching the world and the water and the birds “romp and roam”. 🙂
Wow, Great Egrets, I’ve known only about smaller cattle egrets, and even then a friend of mine who I was talking to about this blog tells me that cattle egrets are actually herons and not egrets at all. I’m pulling up a chair and going to sit quietly and learn!!! 🙂
I’ve had egrets and herons mixed up all my life, Babe, so yes I’ll be pulling up a chair right along side y’all as well to sit and learn. It’ll be fun. 🙂
You sure find great things, birds and potholes and lava and water and sky, and perfect campsites. I love photo #3 too, but I love the birds too.
Me too, Fran, all of it, but mostly the birds (and photo #3). 🙂
Great bird pictures!
Thank you kindly, much appreciated. 🙂
I’ve never seen a yellow headed blackbird before! They look HUGE!!
Actually they seemed small when we were there watching them, at least they seemed smaller to me than regular blackbirds. But we didn’t measure or weigh any of those yellow headed ones, my word who could ever catch one!?!
I didn’t know about yellow headed blackbirds either but it sure was fun watching them hop from stick to stick, you said they were fast, but oh my word are insane fast!!! I knew nothing about Great Egrets either, online says they stand 3 feet tall or more and have a wingspan of 5 feet or more. I always thought egrets were fairly small. But I stand corrected. The Coots were cute. 🙂
Yes, Great Egrets are larger than I thought they would be too. I read that they don’t weigh much though, because they are mostly feathers. I love the coots! 🙂
Cutey coots. 🙂
Cutey comment. 🙂
🙂