In the same walk that netted me these deer photos I also apparently wandered into the breeding territory of a male Red-winged Blackbird. Unfortunately for the bird and its offspring it had chosen rather marginal turf to try to breed in, in little tiny patches of cattails along a path. Needless to say, he was not happy with my intrusion. I was happy though, as I spent a couple minutes getting close-range flight shots of him as he circled me me while raising a ruckus.

I’ve noticed that Red-winged Blackbirds don’t do their “honk-a-rhee” territorial song when trying to drive away an intruder that they perceive as a potential predator. Instead they make a bunch of clucking sounds and often belt out a three-part, high-pitched whistle.

When I continued past the bird he settled down and went back to the good old standby, “honk-a-rhee!”