Spotted sandpipers are common here. They only get their spots on their bellies in the summer when they are breeding. This was the first bird I saw as I walked out on the trail at Roosevelt Wetlands in early February.

Northern shovelers are also common here in the winter. I saw 2 couples in the small pond. This couple was busy bathing when I first saw them and they flap to get off the excess water. I’m not sure why ducks need to take a bath when they live in water. I guess they want to keep their backs clean as well.

Another couple was trying to stay hidden in the reeds. I might not have noticed the female since she blended in but the male really stuck out with his mixed colors and yellow eyes.

Ring neck ducks are also common here in the winter.

Two male painted buntings! I had briefly seen one on my last trip here and was surprised they were still here and there were two. They were on the far back corner up against the waste plant and they flushed when I first saw them. I stood half hidden in the bushes and they eventually came out in view.

A great blue heron fly by.

The Indian blanket flowers along the trail were still blooming in the winter.

A tricolored heron flies into the reeds.

A red winged blackbird was calling his mate.

An osprey nest platform sits on the beginning of the trail. It was early for them to be nesting but on my way out one was sitting on the top giving me the eye as I walked under his nest.