Spring Birds...

Yep, spring is here - and so are the birds. Some of them will disappear in a month or two, while others will simply change growing up - like these adorable Canadian goose chicks. Aren’t they the sweetest?

 

Snowy Egrets may stay longer, and it's possible to spot one during the summer months... but spring is definitely the best time to see them, wading through shallow water in search of a snack.

Double-crested Cormorants are well-known visitors to Colorado. They migrate up from Texas or Mexico, where they spend the winter, and settle here to breed. For a month or two, they become full-time residents of City Park, building nests and creating a big, noisy colony.

I love watching them - playing in the water, flying back and forth, bringing nest materials, and squabbling over the best spots.

It was a warm and sunny Sunday, with just a few clouds in an otherwise clear blue sky.

A hungry Snowy Egret is always a joy to observe. It barely notices the wanderers nearby, calmly pacing along the shore, focused on its hunt. That day, I was lucky - I followed one back and forth for quite a while and had plenty of chances to capture a good portrait. :)

Okay, I know... this next one isn't technically a bird - but how could I not stop and snap a photo?

Egrets, geese, cormorants... wandering, swimming, flying. It was truly a perfect day to watch them all and learn a bit more about their habits and lives.

As I was watching the egret, a pair of mallard ducks glided past. They’re so common that people rarely pay them much attention - but honestly, aren’t they stunning?

Finally - success! The egret caught a snack. It wasn’t much, just a tiny fish, and probably not what it was hoping for... but a win is a win. It didn’t stop there though - clearly still hungry, it kept up its walk-and-hunt routine.

While I was following the egret, I glanced down and saw a female mallard sleeping right under my feet. It was a miracle I didn’t step on her! She opened one eye, gave me a lazy look, and went right back to sleep. :)

Eventually, I let the egret continue its hunt and moved on around the lake - and was rewarded when a Red-winged Blackbird swooped in and landed just a few feet away. It looked just as hungry and began foraging for insects.

The cormorants were still flying back and forth, offering plenty of chances to catch them mid-flight.

And here’s another non-bird! This guy looked straight at me - clearly expecting a treat. Park squirrels really are spoiled.

Continuing my walk around the lake, I came across a goose family: two fluffy goslings, carefully guarded by their parents, nibbling on the fresh spring grass. After all, it’s that time of year when everything takes advantage of new growth.

I eventually circled back to where I started and spotted a pair of unusual-looking cormorants. Same species, but their feathers were much lighter than the charcoal-black ones I usually see here. Juveniles maybe? Or a different subspecies? Either way, they were fascinating to watch.

And finally - a whole group of birds basking in the sun, reminding me of that day I spent photographing nothing but cormorants - A day of cormorant's life.

A special thanks to ChatGPT for helping me polishing the wording :)

The photos were taken on April 27, 2025