Red-necked Grebe

The feel of goose bumps and half-numbed skin was the most wonderful feeling late afternoon on 8 June 2016, when I couldn't bear being inside my place one more day. It feels like an oven each summer, but this year, with the crazy weather we have been having, the heat has already been too much. I had already stayed home for three days in a row, as the two day trips at the weekend had totally knocked me out. I couldn't take the indoor heat any longer, and so I took a drive SW of the city. By the time I got back home, I felt 'cold', which was so good.

A quick stop first at a wetland just within city limits showed me that all was well with the Red-necked Grebes. This adult, presumably Mom, was swimming right near her nest when I arrived, but she eventually climbed back on her nest, checking her eggs before lying down. I will add a previously posted photo in a comment box below, giving a much better view of the adult Grebe. Taken at the same location, on 10 May 2015.

Travelled all my usual roads and back roads, seeing all the usual things, including Wilson's Snipe, Red-winged Blackbirds and Mountain Bluebirds.

When I felt it was time to start on my homeward journey, I reckoned I might as well check one more time for a Great Gray Owl. I almost drove straight past it - it was on the far side of the road and just blended in with the light and shadows of the forest. I took a few quick shots, then drove down the road and turned around, hoping that the owl would still be in the same place, which thankfully it was. It eventually flew across the road and landed in a tree or two and then made its way to an open area where it continued to hunt. After a few minutes, it dove into the grass and completely disappeared from sight. I thought I must have missed seeing it fly away, but it eventually did reappear and immediately flew across the road again, with a small rodent in its beak. A quick stop on a fence post (with its back to me, sigh) and then it flew off into the trees. No matter how many times I see one of these owls and no matter how many hundreds/thousands of photos I've taken of them, each owl is as exciting as the very first.

Having been so very fortunate to see this owl (which i have now seen on three days in the past week), I thought I would check one more time to see if the second owl that I saw a few days ago was anywhere in sight. Nothing - but I did watch and photograph a sweet pair of Mountain Bluebirds. Not my 'usual' pair, though I did see them briefly, earlier on my drive.