@rookersteve | Steve's Shots

rookersteve

rookersteve

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Steve Rooker

Swimming with the Coots was a Pied‑Billed Grebe gliding across the water. The thick, pale bill with a dark vertical band is the giveaway. That “pied bill” is unique among North American waterbirds.
The bird’s compact, rounded body and short neck match grebe proportions. They often sit low in the water. This is a young one.
They’re common across much of North America in ponds, marshes, and quiet lakes. Expert divers — they sink quietly rather than taking off when startled. Their call is surprisingly loud and almost laughing, which feels at odds with their shy nature.
The dark brown plumage with subtle shading is typical for this species outside of breeding extremes.

Great Horned Owl owlet. Found the family over in the Richfield. This owlet was keeping an eye on me.

This is a pair of wood ducks. The male is easy to identify with its bright colors

I have been trying to find owls all spring- I was lucky enough to make friends with a few other photographers who pointed me to the right area to look and 1 who waved me over while he was taking pictures. This is a Great Horned Owl, trying to take a nap during the mid-day. It allowed us to step up close (10 yards).

This is a common Grackle. A small colony has taken up residence in the evergreens behind the house. Wonderful colors, but bullies! They have taken over the bird feeders and eat like they haven't eaten in weeks. I think they have spooky eyes.

During the breeding season, when swans are forming or reinforcing their lifelong pair bonds, they engage in elaborate courtship rituals. One of the most visible is wing-spreading, where the male (or sometimes the female) raises and fans out the wings, often while facing the partner. This behavior is part of a broader set of displays that can include head-dipping dances, synchronized movements, and soft vocalizations

Who are you and why are you taking my photo?