ANOTHER HUNTLEY MEADOWS WALK - PART 2

We came across the friendly couple again, and the gentleman started telling me about these Barn Swallows.

If you scroll down on the Cave Swallow page, link here, and for some reason I could not find a link on the actual page for the Barn Swallow, you will come to four illustrations; on the right is the Barn Swallow.  Click on that and you will hear its call.  At this link, scroll down and you will be able to listen to a whole range of North American Birds and their calls.

I never thought we would come across a Green Heron on the walkway.  We paused as there was another photographer trying to get its photo.   

The young man photographing this bird told us what it was. I was still too far away for an ID.  I haven't seen a Green Heron in a long time. We spent several moments admiring it, with several photographic opportunities for both of us, until other families arrived and it soon flew off.  We were grateful for the time we had to enjoy this beautiful bird.

Another favorite seen everywhere today was the Red-wing Blackbird.

You can hear its song here.  It is distinctive and once you recognize its sound, unmistakable.

The female Red-wing was nearer the water.

At first I thought this was a Bluebird, but studying it further I am more inclined to believe it was a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  I would love to be sure so if you can help please let me know.

And now for a creature that isn't as popular to many, but reptiles have always fascinated me.  Not usually in their natural habitat, more likely behind the glass in a reptile house at the zoo.  

Gregg spotted it below the walkway near the double-decker observation platform.  It is an Eastern Garter Snake.  According to this link they are the gardener's best friend.  They feed on a wide variety of prey including spiders, insects, fish and amphibians.

The closest I could get to identifying this pretty pink wildflower is a Wild Geranium.

The next wildflower is a Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass. 

The Mallard Duck came out from behind a tree for a short time, and just as quickly disappeared into thick, bushy water plants

I saw this bird foraging for food and it was hard to get a decent picture as it was too far away.  There are two types that have been seen here recently, the Greater Yellowlegs and the Lesser Yellowlegs.  I have been scratching my head to see if I can see a difference.  

I think now that this may be the Lesser Yellowlegs, but there is a link here that gives a description of the differences.  Still hard for me to tell without the two side by side.  The lesser is a smaller bird and the beak isn't quite as long.  What do you think?   Sorry they aren't clearer, they are the best I could get.

Towards the end of our walk we came across the Great Blue Heron, in a different spot...

and also the Snowy Egret.

Also I found one more Bullfrog.

You can read more about this interesting critter at another link I found here. 

Thanks so much for continuing this walk with us. 

(Both Gregg and I took photos that I shared today and yesterday.  The logo with my name on it I made from a photo I found at Pixabay.com. My thanks once again to Sandra at Mad Snapper for telling us all about it in one of her posts on her blog.)