Chirps and Cheeps

After a cold, rainy day, an evening walk through Tifft tonight was especially lovely.  The setting sun and the serenity of the nearly empty preserve was extra special.

I didn't see much out of the ordinary on my walk, but I was very happy to find the Osprey has, indeed, returned. Others have reported that it was back, but I hadn't gotten a chance to see it for myself yet. He made up for it tonight, though, because I ran into him several times. I saw him up on the nesting platform, on a fly-by out on the boardwalk, calling his eerie call from high up in a tree near the South Blind, and then again up near the edge of the mounds on my way out. Being unfamiliar with his call, I must say it went right through me each time I heard it.

The female Belted Kingfisher gave me some splendid close encounters. Usually, they're so reluctant to be within a hundred feet or more - but tonight, this gal seemed totally unconcerned with my presence. She even landed in a tree almost directly overhead at one point - and stayed perched while I took a bunch of photos. Amazing!

I did get some nice views of a White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, a few Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Caspian Terns, a Winter Wren, and more Tree Swallows.  It was an evening that restored the spirit, soul, and body...