pectoral sandpiper

pectoral sandpiper, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

late last night i went to check on the snow and mud and was ambushed by a flock of pectoral sandpipers.



at least i think that's what they were. never seen them before, and their range is not shown to be south central alaska, but they look like PS's.



running around like chickens with their heads cut off.



leaving prints in the mud and then flushing in a big swoop.

grebes building a nest

grebes building a nest, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

at the lagoon the grebes are building nests.



this couple was diving to the bottom and digging up muddy debris to bring to the nest site.



so what if we got a couple inches of snow yesterday. grebes gotta build nests!

nesting in the willows

nesting in the willows, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

honor to the women who nurtured me regardless of their title.

gratitude to the women who showed me how to have a voice



admiration to the women who were brave enough to not back down and showed me to stand up for myself



loyalty to the women who provided for me



blessed that i get to be a mom and model these things to my kids

high five, down low

greater yellowlegs in the twilight, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

a greater yellowlegs in the twilight (on the other side of the lagoon than the previous sighting. with a lesser spotted breast, and without the ravenous squawking lover.)



this one solitary, searching for dinner.



as if for contrast, over where people play frisbee golf in a melting puddle in the middle of the lawn, a lesser yellowlegs.



different call, quick darting flight, a bill that is the same length as the head, and which is sharp and straight.

greater yellowlegs in love

greater yellowlegs in love a video by lefiligree on Flickr.

i was heading back up the edge of the lagoon minding my own business when some hollering and flapping down in the marsh grasses seized my breathe and paralyzed my muscles.



at first i didnt know if they were going to attack me or attack each other.



what with all the hollering and wing flapping.



and then the smaller male sauntered off.



the female looked after him wistfully, for a minute, and then flew off in the opposite direction.



back home i had to google "how do birds eggs get fertilized" just to be sure what i'd just seen.

birds birds everywhere birds

greater white-fronted goose, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

they are flocking home in droves to nest. some, like this greater white-fronted goose (perhaps even the subspecies tule goose?), not even stopping just giving me the once-over and flapping on.



others, like the 3 pairs of grebes on the lagoon, engaged in passionate, vocal dance-offs.



me crouched in the thawing swamp ice holding my breath.

summer fishing cabins

pulley, a photo by lefiligree on Flickr.

more because i left my heart in unalakleet