From water everywhere to scorching heat

Tweet After a long while of having many of my birding spots under water, the waters have finally receded. This had left behind lots of mud, and some mud loving shorebirds.

I walked right up to this Least Sandpiper which was sleeping in the mud. I did not see it till it lifted its head. I was so close, I had a hard time focusing my camera!

I startled it up, it walked around me till it was later spooked to flight by a person with a dog. Was able to get a good shot of it.

Least Sandpiper

Also spotted these Semipalmated Plovers in the mud. They are so small when seen up close. They look and move like little wind up toys.

Semipalmated Plover

One flew to the lake to take a bath, here it is taking off.

The swallows were also taking advantage of the abundant food available left by the receding waters. I was able to see Bank, Cliff, Barn, Northern Rough-winged, and Tree swallows at the same time.

Barn Swallow

This was the first time that I seen a Cliff Swallow close up. It just started to rain when I took this picture. They are a nice looking bird!

Cliff Swallow

The receded waters must have left an abundance of food around. Here are some pics of birds seen in the remnants of the flooded woods.

Pileated Woodpecker - this bird was on the side of the road!


Pileated Woodpecker



These birds were everywhere!


Baltimore Oriole



Red-eyed Vireo



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher



Eastern Kingbird

Then came the heat. Temps in the high 80's and then 90's quickly turned the good birding off. It left a lot of amphibians and reptiles high and dry. Here are a few that I had come across.

Found this Painted Turtle in the middle of the road while out birding. I had put him back in the pond. Love this turtle's colors.

Painted Turtle

My nephews had found this little Western Chorus Frog (at least I think it is) on the patio. It was small enough to fit on my thumbnail.

Western Chorus Frog?

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