Spring coming to the refuge

Today was a sunny day at the refuge with lots of activity if one was patient! Great Blue Herons, White Pelicans, Killdeer, Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Horned Owls - along with the ubiquitous and noisy Canada Geese, Kestrels, gulls of various kinds and dueling Harriers!  In a bit of a departure from my normal there is also a capture of spiders!
I realize every time we go to the refuge that we get to see what we get to see - and are alert enough to see. The pelicans flew right at us as we were watching a GBH catch fish (what kind of bait does he use?). The killdeer flew overhead insisting on my attention - once I had a couple of photos they landed and ran around on the ground. Life moves at its own pace out there, sometimes fast - sometimes slow.
Welcome to my world!

The ice has melted on the pond just inside the gate and the GBH has come back!

Four and twenty blackbirds, baked in a pie ....... These guys and gals welcome you all along the dike.

Juveniles playing or territorial dispute?  They had a good go at each other!

"Look at me" could have been the song they were singing - cause they landed after I took their photo.

When you are moving slowly even a spider can be your subject!

light over the Oquirrh's.

He/she caught two fish while we watched. Elegance in motion!

Here's the Great Horned pair - Mom on the nest and Dad standing guard.