A Greater Yellowlegs And Its Weather Loach Prey
Yesterday morning we encountered several cooperative Greater Yellowlegs at Farmington Bay and this one found a rather unusual prey item.
Category: Birds
Northern Harrier “Playing”
Northern Harriers are occasionally known to play but it’s something I’ve seldom seen. Harriers are normally all business as they pursue simple survival in a harsh and unforgiving world but a week ago today I watched and photographed as one of these hawks had some apparent “fun”.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Phragmites
I have a complicated relationship with Phragmites. Though some strains are native to North America, much more vigorous invasive varieties from Eurasia haven taken over many of our wetlands and proven to be extremely difficult to control. Dense “reed stands” of Phragmites with their dramatic seed plumes waving in the breeze can be strikingly beautiful but they’re a huge problem in our wetlands.
A Menacing Look From A Male Northern Harrier
When Northern Harriers choose to hunt along the edges of the dirt roads I frequent they sometimes give me interesting looks as they pass by. This is one of them.
Centennial Valley Cedar Waxwings
Because of their flocking habits and unpredictable nomadic movements Cedar Waxwings have always been elusive for me. My best luck with them has always been in Montana and each of these shots was taken in the Centennial Valley in the southwest part of that state
Fledgling Cliff Swallow
This post is a bit of a change of pace for me – a fledgling Cliff Swallow, one the more common birds in North America.
A Spooky Great Horned Owl For Halloween
This year I decided to make an attempt at getting into the Halloween spirit with this Great Horned Owl image. I think this birds “blown” eye contributes to the effect.
Short-eared Owl Carrying A Vole In Its Beak (for a change)
I have many images of Short-eared Owls carrying prey in their talons in flight but very few where they’re carrying the prey in their beak. This is one of them.
Is A Hawk Capable Of “Planning”?
I sometimes see hawks buried so deeply in trees that I can’t help but wonder how they’re going to fly out without injury or at least feather damage. They occasionally appear to “think” about their escape route just before take-off, which implies “planning”. Some images I took yesterday brought the question to mind once again – are hawks capable of “planning”?
The Many Moods Of A Female American Kestrel
Like most bird photographers I find American Kestrels to be a very difficult subject, largely because they’re so difficult to approach. But occasionally, under the right conditions, one can find a calm and cooperative bird. This female exceeded all expectations.
Frosty Rough-legged Hawk
It was one of those classic frosty mornings at the bay where everything was covered with the thick hoar-frost that I tend to love in my settings.
Ferruginous Hawks Hunting From Power Poles
Ferruginous Hawks are our largest and most powerful buteo but they’re also secretive, wary of humans and often roost on the ground so they can be difficult to locate.
Sleepy Great Horned Owl Fledgling
There has been breeding Great Horned Owls on the Montana farm where I grew up for many years and when I’m there in spring or early summer I can usually count on several curious youngsters exploring their surroundings as they learn the ropes. It’s a big farm with many outbuildings so it’s always a challenge to find them once they fledge. It’s a pleasant early morning ritual for me to wander around and try to locate them – it’s almost like a game we play.
White-crowned Sparrows – Sunflower Gluttony And Crossed Bills
A local pumpkin farmer (Pack Farms) plants sunflowers along the periphery of his pumpkin field and each fall they provide a messy bounty for a variety of birds. Most species seem to be tidy eaters but the juvenile White-crowned Sparrows are an exception.
The orange in the background of these shots is – you guessed it – pumpkins.
Birds Befuddled By Stray Feathers
Nothing serious this morning – just a couple of interesting and slightly amusing observations.
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Northern Harrier “Playing”
Northern Harriers are occasionally known to play but it’s something I’ve seldom seen. Harriers are normally all business as they pursue simple survival in a harsh and unforgiving world but a week ago today I watched and photographed as one of these hawks had some apparent “fun”.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Phragmites
I have a complicated relationship with Phragmites. Though some strains are native to North America, much more vigorous invasive varieties from Eurasia haven taken over many of our wetlands and proven to be extremely difficult to control. Dense “reed stands” of Phragmites with their dramatic seed plumes waving in the breeze can be strikingly beautiful but they’re a huge problem in our wetlands.
A Menacing Look From A Male Northern Harrier
When Northern Harriers choose to hunt along the edges of the dirt roads I frequent they sometimes give me interesting looks as they pass by. This is one of them.
Centennial Valley Cedar Waxwings
Because of their flocking habits and unpredictable nomadic movements Cedar Waxwings have always been elusive for me. My best luck with them has always been in Montana and each of these shots was taken in the Centennial Valley in the southwest part of that state
Fledgling Cliff Swallow
This post is a bit of a change of pace for me – a fledgling Cliff Swallow, one the more common birds in North America.
A Spooky Great Horned Owl For Halloween
This year I decided to make an attempt at getting into the Halloween spirit with this Great Horned Owl image. I think this birds “blown” eye contributes to the effect.
Short-eared Owl Carrying A Vole In Its Beak (for a change)
I have many images of Short-eared Owls carrying prey in their talons in flight but very few where they’re carrying the prey in their beak. This is one of them.
Is A Hawk Capable Of “Planning”?
I sometimes see hawks buried so deeply in trees that I can’t help but wonder how they’re going to fly out without injury or at least feather damage. They occasionally appear to “think” about their escape route just before take-off, which implies “planning”. Some images I took yesterday brought the question to mind once again – are hawks capable of “planning”?
The Many Moods Of A Female American Kestrel
Like most bird photographers I find American Kestrels to be a very difficult subject, largely because they’re so difficult to approach. But occasionally, under the right conditions, one can find a calm and cooperative bird. This female exceeded all expectations.
Frosty Rough-legged Hawk
It was one of those classic frosty mornings at the bay where everything was covered with the thick hoar-frost that I tend to love in my settings.
Ferruginous Hawks Hunting From Power Poles
Ferruginous Hawks are our largest and most powerful buteo but they’re also secretive, wary of humans and often roost on the ground so they can be difficult to locate.
Sleepy Great Horned Owl Fledgling
There has been breeding Great Horned Owls on the Montana farm where I grew up for many years and when I’m there in spring or early summer I can usually count on several curious youngsters exploring their surroundings as they learn the ropes. It’s a big farm with many outbuildings so it’s always a challenge to find them once they fledge. It’s a pleasant early morning ritual for me to wander around and try to locate them – it’s almost like a game we play.
White-crowned Sparrows – Sunflower Gluttony And Crossed Bills
A local pumpkin farmer (Pack Farms) plants sunflowers along the periphery of his pumpkin field and each fall they provide a messy bounty for a variety of birds. Most species seem to be tidy eaters but the juvenile White-crowned Sparrows are an exception.
The orange in the background of these shots is – you guessed it – pumpkins.
Birds Befuddled By Stray Feathers
Nothing serious this morning – just a couple of interesting and slightly amusing observations.