The past few days were spent birding and in search of local advantages using cold weather. At Wolfe’s pond the ice was growing and causing the birds to hang out in any open water. This act of survival allowed for an approach that would not send them flying in the opposite direction. As long as the approach was slow, gradual and not threatening they allowed us to be in their presence. Photography was tough as some days were total over cast presenting a problem with silver water. Something no one wants to normally see. The best experiences were had with two coots just fishing for fresh water plants below the ice. A mute swan was there making it very difficult to photograph the coots. Every time a shot presented itself it felt like the diva it was and slowly and gradually infiltrated the frame. Despite the mute swans ambitions to be photographed I managed to get a bunch of photographs off. The party was broken up due to a person feeding the birds. A massive fly-in of gulls from the shoreline right near the path of open water these happy go lucky coots were spending their time in.

Interesting gull shots ensued. It is especially entertaining to see them skid in for a landing on the ice. A bit of humor to the day. As many have said before, “…If you aren’t laughing, then you aren’t living.” In a positive way of course.

This pair would rotate between the open water and the edge seeking food. Unfortunately from a human taste point of view there seemed to only be guano available. Not my particular choice of tastes.

What are you lookin’ at? — Actually they are searching the waters for fresh water plants.

One of the ring billed gulls enjoying some left over Italian bread. Semolina I hope, yum.

This shot I waited for as they would periodically fly in. While panning with him I fired off using continuous high speed mode.

The entertaining spectacle is of the gulls flying in without built in brakes.

This house sparrow was when I decided to pack up and head back to the car. I saw him above me really close, but my tripod wasn’t set up. So in an awkward pose and long pause of wondering to photograph it I fired off as many shakey shots as I could; balancing the tripod in a hotizontal position.