I'm no pro...

...not a high-end photographer or globe-trotting birder, but I *have* been identifying birds around me for 29 years and observing their behavior as a large part of the ID process in many cases. I don't think I've ever seen Canada geese in trees before! Took this pic from half a block away this morning, during about 3 or so minutes these 2 were settled and calling to each other and more comrades on the ground. They are in fact standing on flat spots where dead trunks were removed way before I moved in down the street, but I've still never seen a Canada goose in a tree until today. When I check the pics later in more detail, I may be able to tell whether the bird on the right was grooming itself or grazing spring buds off the branches closest to it; from my range all I could see was repeated neck motions that could have been either. I'm glad I live a life wherein I get to see so many new things!

I will be in the Idaho Panhandle most of next week, in the PF-CdA area. If there are any local sights, birds, landmarks, etc anyone would like to see pics of, I'd be happy to do what I can to get photos to post here on DavesGarden. As I don't drive and my neighbor is going for 4 days of medical treatments, I can't promise a lot--but I can promise to enjoy trying! :D

Thanks my friend for sharing such interesting finding on the C. geese. I'm looking to see more. I saw an Eagle nest for the first time ever yesterday. I was in awe! Aren't we're so lucky. I'm so grateful of all the beauties all around us.

I had the literally jaw-dropping experience last summer of watching an adult golden eagle glide in for a soft landing about 50 feet in front of us and maybe 30 feet up when I realized what it was as it came almost directly towards us from the passenger side. My neighbor stopped the truck in the middle of the Pioneer Mtns Scenic Byway here in MT, just stopped to watch it fly by. Of course I couldn't get the camera outta the bag, my hands were shaking so! I have had a number of irreplaceable "nature nut" moments in my life, and ol' Goldie will always rank...even if nothing's come close to beating being knuckle-deep scritching in the fur of an adult male snow leopard who was groovin' on the attention big-time :D (Used to have a friend w/USDA exotics licenses up down & sideways...visiting his house was pretty much a miracle of things I'd never seen alive & close before!) We're hoping to head back out where we saw the golden eagle in May if we can afford the gas, because the overlap of Pacific Slope & Great Basin migratory species is mind-bending and I know a *great* free-access birding site :) Got the first photo entry on my life list for the Eastern Kingbird there, shown below.

Nice ones snake! I look forward to seeing more of your pics.

Interesting shot...I have never seen the geese in trees....