Refuge Friday

A visit to the refuge in between showers and clouds, found a bit of sun. Ducks, GBH, Harriers, and Kestrels along with a few blackbirds and the rest of the marsh birds. Duck and pheasant hunters wandering around, not much shooting.
Here's some of the best from today..

A red-tailed hawk started us out - glaring fiercely at whomever is interrupting its day!

Big sky country

A rather moody view south..

A young GBH all by its lonesome..

The landscape is fascinating.

Attention!

Harrier hunting - I think this is an juvenile..

Another perspective

Kessie the kestrel leaving me behind..

Pintails, Shovelers and a lone lesser Yellowlegs

A couple of mallard couples along with the pintails..

Waterbirds in LOgan

I dropped Diana off at St. Johns Episcopal church in Logan to do her supply work, and headed out to see what the pools around Logan have in them. After my first photo of a wood duck , I would have stopped there - they are such a gorgeous creature. But there were a few others waiting their turn so here they are.

Pied bill grebe...

I think these two are male and female Gadwalls

Pied Bills in the distance but not sure of duck in front..

Male and female wood ducks

Male and female mallards

A goose admiring itself..

More wood ducks

Refuge Monday

A beautiful day for an early start, as the skies are filling with smog rapidly as the temperature warms a bit. Yuk!
A quick trip to the refuge to see what's up. The seasons have changed again - the Harriers and Kestrels are back in force! Love it! Ducks with wonderful colors hiding close, and the sole Bald Eagle posed for shots.
Can hardly wait to get a storm to rid us of this crud in the air!

You looking at me????

Good thing they have strong claws or they'd fall off a lot!!

Female Kestrel rising after a snack..

Smog Lake City

Male Harrier - aka Grey Ghost -

Northern Shoveler contorting itself.....

Beauty in the bushes..

Invasion!

Cedar waxwings are moving through, look for them around the trees with berries in them. I was up in Ogden yesterday and one of the party pointed them out - I had my head in the camera doing some photos of people.
Beautiful birds..

Refuge Wednesday

I had a chance to go out to the refuge again today so away I went..saw my first bald eagle of the season and had a great walk on a new dike..
Enjoy..

Kestrel leaving us behind..

A hawk that looks like a red-tailed but had rough-legged pantaloons....?? And what is it doing in the water???

Another Monet painting..

The green pollen was being blown by the breeze and bending around the plants in its way..

Big sky country..

Little bird looks like some kind of lark - will check..
Update: Looks like it is an American Pipit, a rather common bird in the non-breeding seasons.

Island in the sky..

Vastness..

A bald eagle, the first of this season, and a red-tailed play in the sky

Little varmints footprints..

Watershed - looks like desert sands..

And the ubiquitous Greater Yellowlegs..

Refuge Monday

Another beautiful cool sunny day so off to bird land I went. Although if no birds there is always beauty to capture. Today there was both.
Enjoy!

Sunlight on fall grass..

Western Screech Owl - hiding out

Almost looks Aisan..

Love the Cottonwood leaves in the fall..

Did you ever have a day where you felt like this?

Monet!...

Juvenile Swamp Chicken -

A flock of meadowlarks showed up - probably on their way to winter grounds.  No singing....

He was strutting around in a place where there was no hunting allowed...smart guy!

Lot of red, fuchsia, whatever color it is..

 The seasons first Rough-legged Hawk, down from Alaska to spend the winter.