Having made many early morning visits to Col. Sam Smith Park in May searching unsuccessfully for Whimbrels, I became aware of where the best spots in the park are for close-up bird photography. With that in mind, here is what I was able to photograph on a June morning.






MYSTERY BIRD
I will identify it at the end of the post.































MYSTERY BIRD
Looking like a miniature Mockingbird, this tiny bird is blue-gray above and has a white eye-ring – a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher.

MAILBOX
Loon fishing in jasper. Never been so close.
NATURE POETRY
The earliest breath of June
Blows the white tassels from the cherry boughs,
And in the deepest shadow of noon
The mild-eyed oxen browse. – Elizabeth Ann Allen (1832–1911)
Miles Hearn
Beautiful! This is such a great place for pictures of birds. And it’s delightful to see what chicks and juveniles look like, too! Great video of a Loon fishing. Thanks, Miles!
heard the cat bird this morning and then I saw him!!! so neat to see your pictures,we have a Greenbelt behind the house,it’s a Bird Paradise, and today a cardinal flew right past my nose…..awesome…loved the loon video,never saw a loon in action….thank you so much for giving us so much joy!!!!