A Dining Day

Making the rounds at Halibut Point today I came upon a variety of birds busily provisioning themselves.

Downy Woodpecker

This Downy Woodpecker was digging so intently into an old sumac tree that it didn't seem to mind my approach to within a few feet.

It used all its body parts to support its foraging endeavor,

especially the short, stiff tail feathers it uses as a prop while excavating.

Of course its chisel-point bill is its principal asset in the quest for bugs under bark.

Black Duck and Pickerelweed

In an aquatic niche dabbling ducks contentedly browse for the algae and other fine-textured plants they prefer.

Ducks amid Water-shield

They glean much of this food from the underwater surfaces of host plants or other objects.

Green Heron

This Green Heron on the other hand has been waiting motionless at waterside until it spotted its prey.

It adeptly seized a fish swimming just below the surface.

Although neither buoyant nor water-repellant itself the heron managed to snare its quarry,

and bring it triumphantly back to the granite promontory.

With a deft flick of its head the heron positioned the fish to swallow head first, fins pointed rearward.

It was a successful dining day for all us hunters and observers.