Hooded Merganser at Lake Artemesia.

The forecast was cloudy and windy but it didn’t look too bad when I awoke, so I took a chance on Artemesia.

The sky was pretty cloudy, but it got better as the sun began to rise, and I got some decent shots at dawn.

I’m not crazy about windy days, and I got lucky, as the wind didn’t get started for a few hours after dawn. That was good, as there were many birds on the lake, and many were close enough for good images.

I never did get really good light, but it was a good day anyway.

Lake Artemesia 117

Lake Artemesia 116

Dawn at Lake Artemesia.

Canvasback 2019-1

It;s not much of a shot, but you can see the Canvasback female in front An unsusual bird for Artemesia.

Hooded Merganser 2019-5 Hooded Merganser 2019-4 Hooded Merganser 2019-3 Hooded Merganser 2019-2 Hooded Merganser 2019-1

Hooded Merganser 2019-6

4 Hooded Mergansers were very cooperative this morning.

Double Crested Cormorant 2019-1

Double Crested Cormorant 2019-2

Many Double Crested Cormorants are spending time at the lake.

Bufflehead 2019-1

Bufflehead 2019-2

A few Buffleheads were feeding this morning.

C anada Goose 2019-1

There were well over a hundred Canada Geese.

Great Blue Heron 2019-1

This Great Blue Heron ignored my presence.

Great Egret 2019-2 Great Egret 2019-1

Great Egret 2019-3

It’s rare to see a Great Egret this late in the season.

Ring Billed Gull 2019-1

Many Ring Billed Gulls are staying at the lake.