While we were out chasing those Snowy Owls last week, we also saw lots of Canada Geese, as well as a huge flock of Snow Buntings. I managed one series of shots of geese in one of the distant flooded fields we drove by.
I must have got the focus close, because these three geese are a heavily cropped small piece of a much larger photo. Canada Geese are not one of my favourite birds, but I have to give them credit for being well adapted to surviving!
These are the geese, on a distance flooded field.
As we watched, one small group of geese decided they needed to stretch their wings.
Of course there was a lot of honking to go along with their flight past the trees in the background as they rose off the water.
Until they rose above the trees, and off they went into the sky.
Meanwhile, a great many more geese stayed resting on the water, all facing the same direction into the wind.
A few moments later we saw this enormous flock of Snow Buntings, several hundred at least. We often see them picking grit off the winter roads, in small flocks of 20 or 30. But obviously this flock is gathering to head north. They breed in the high Arctic, but come south to winter all across Canada and into the northern United Stated.
As the Cornell Lab of Ornithology states on its website, "
the mostly white plumage of a bunting flock evokes the image of a snowstorm", and that's exactly the impression we had as the birds swirled up and down, back and forth over the field.
Linking to:
I love your photos of the Canada Geese... especially the ones in flight.
ReplyDeleteLarge flocks of Canada geese were going over last week and earlier this week -- headed your way. The haunting sound of their calls always invokes mental images of the far north -- even when the calls are from resident flocks only heading out to feed after spending the night on the river.
ReplyDeleteSnow Buntings, what a very apt name, and the geese, great photos of them in flight.
ReplyDeleteYesterday we drove through the Skagit Valley in Washington and saw lots of Trumpeter Swans still in the farmers' fields. They should be heading north pretty soon I would think. We had a resident flock of Canada Geese hanging around the hospital grounds and the beach all winter, even though it was a colder one than normal. They usually head a little farther south to Oregon, but the Snow Geese hang out with the swans in Skagit. - Margy
ReplyDeleteWonderful closeup of those geese, and they are also not one of my favorite birds but they sure are pretty in the sky. Snow buntings are definitely reminiscent of a blizzard! :-)
ReplyDeleteSpring is sure in the air , like that kind of snowstorm much better than the kind you have to shovel.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the Geese in flight!
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of Snow Buntings!
Have a great week-end!
i am not a big fan of geese either but up close, in the right light, they can be beautiful!! you are right about their survival skills!!! nice captures!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photography of the Canadian Geese in action ~ thanks,
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^
Wonderful shots of them in flight. They're all making plans about migrating right about now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I need to look up snow buntings. I don't think we have them here in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteI had greater respect for Canada Geese when they migrated properly. Back then it was a gift to hear them and see them fly over our house in the fall and winter. It meant something! Even though they are with us all winter long now (here anyway), I have enjoyed them more when I began photographing them and seeing their beauty a little closer. I've never seen a snow bunting. Love the shot of that huge flock over the fields ... amazing! I'd love it if you got a close-up shot of one ;)
ReplyDeleteWendy
You got some great pictures of the geese. Nice to see them in flight.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a snow bunting. Sure are lots of them in that picture and they do look like big snowflakes. : )
I've been seeing many geese migrating back recently. Those snow buntings are amazing--I don't think I've ever see so mnay before!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful shots! It's amazing that they all sit facing the same way!
ReplyDeleteHello, wonderful photos of the geese. Great flight shots. I have never so many Snow Buntings before, what an awesome sighting. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day and the weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice series, FG!
ReplyDeleteI can understand the geese not being your favorite bird, but I still cannot help but love them. AND, I do not remember hearing of snow buntings. Thanks for introducing a new bird to me!
ReplyDeleteWe have geese in the fields. I feel so badly for them!
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