More Harrier

I love watching the Harriers fly and observing their acrobatics as they hunt for prey. The phrase "Turn on a dime" really applies to them.

Before the Storm

I took advantage of some time yesterday before the storm to check out the refuge again since we were so close to it. A dark day with not a lot of action by GBH's, but LOTS of Harriers - mating season I believe - and quite a few eagles again way out on the ice.
The Ibis were back being their normal goofy beings and the Kestrels were showing off for me!

Showoff!

The only flyby that I saw that came close.

Sneaking off to the Refuge

Diana had a knee replacement Wednesday and the hospital is quite close to the refuge so Murphy and I snuck off to the refuge for a couple of hours yesterday after lunch. The scene at that time was mostly Kestrels and Harriers with a number of Bald Eagles sitting on the ice waaaayyy out there so they are just black spots!
I saw a couple of GBH's flying by but none at the fishing spot around 1 to 3pm. But enough cuteness and beauty was available to keep me happy!

Murphy is a very photographed dog!

Common Goldeneye's are very beautiful.

Harriers not only fly above the grasses they fly in them also!

Something about the GBH's flying that I love.

Here's cuteness and beauty all wrapped into  a bird.

Common mallards provide such beauty without even trying.

Harrier Sequence

We sat and watched this harrier for quite a while, then decided to get out of the truck and see what she would do.  Here's the sequence of photos that I shot when she left, all the while looking back at Murphy and I.

Hanging out at the Refuge

Murphy and I hung out at the refuge today while the girls went shopping. Worked out well for all of us.
No herons or eagles until after about 11:15am; then the herons flew in from the rushes to the west to congregate around the open water areas where there are fish. Eagles came around, both mature and young ones, but stayed fairly far out...little black dots!
Lots of Northern Harriers and one kestrel today - and the Northern Shovelers were back also.

The heron had a fish so big he could not swallow it!

New Raptor hanging around.

There's a new raptor hanging around the 'hood these days and she doesn't seem to afraid of people.  I've seen her mate flying by also so looks like they might nest up around here!

Then the Canadiens flew by and entertained us with their talk.

Around the house.

Leo hasn't been featured for a while so here he is outside (for a change).  With snow he spends most of his time laying in front of the fireplace!
The white scraps are plastic blown by the wind and caught by the barbed-wire fence. The sun highlights them in the morning.

A miraculous day at the refuge!

Diana, Carey, Murphy and I spent a few hours at the Farmington Bay WMA and were awed by the sounds and sights that were there for us. Thousands of gulls, many GBH's and quite a few Bald Eagles combined to create an ever changing, raucous scene that we were privileged to be observers to.
Herons were feeding quite close to one another and to the gulls, which meant they had to eat their catch quickly! Northern Shovelers showed off their colors and their feeding technique which it seemed that some of the gulls were copying!! The eagles had a couple of fish and a few dust-ups between them as they went about their process of sharing?! And all around us the Harriers and Kestrels hunted for prey.
Quite a day!

Out front!

I took my camera and Murphy and we sat on the front porch this afternoon for a while. Shortly after being there I realized there was a hawk sitting across the road on the fence.
Initially thinking it was a Sharp-shinned but then seeing that white butt when it flew realized it was a Northern Harrier.

He picked up something and carried it away - looks like a wing from another bird.

Hunger makes interesting partners

Meadowlarks and Starlings - they sit on fence posts together waiting for the right time to come in for food!

Wandering around

Murphy and I meandered around this afternoon, over to Timpie Springs WMA and back home by an alternate route. Fun getting out on a 45 degree day!

Here's a couple of miscellaneous shots:

A couple of very young red-tailed hawks.

Snow melt and grass make great patterns in the marsh.

Caught this big guy just outside Grantsville.