Refuge Monday

 Monday morning had a bit of sunshine so visited the refuge for a bit. Not a lot of activity, but enough to make me feel at home! Shot a number of out of focus shots on Harriers as they maneuvered around me. Just practicing my panning skills, I say.

The pheasant was a real surprise and prize.. it snuck out of tall grasses just below Goose Egg hill and wandered slowly along the path above the waterway. I do not remember ever seeing the quantity and quality of colors in a pheasant before. Absolutely stunning.

The Kestrel I had to follow around. I kept missing opportunities on drive by's so had to turn around and try again. Nothing fantastic but fun.

The big Red-tailed Hawk was not far off the road on the top of a dead branch. It posed quite nicely.

Enjoy..

Greater Yellowlegs I believe, several of them working a shallow pond.

A cacophony of color..

Red-tailed Hawk - love when they stare at me this way. They look cross-eyed.

Refuge Thursday

 Another sunny Thursday at the refuge, this one with a bit of a cold breeze from the west. Very few ducks around - last week there were tonnes - perhaps the winds this week pushed them on their migration.

A couple of first's for the season though, a Bald Eagle and a Rough-legged Hawk. Here's hoping for a lot more eagles and hawks during the next few months.

Otherwise a Red-tailed Hawk played peek-a-boo with us and a Kestrel demonstrated its classic hovering form..

Enjoy!

The first of the season Bald Eagle greeted us on the way in,..

The Red-tailed Hawk playing with us..it wasn't certain what to do about Molly..

A familiar bird but cannot remember it's name...stopped to say hello..

Sunny day at the refuge..

Thursday was a beautiful sunny day so the family went to the refuge. Molly enjoyed finding all the smells, and Diana and I enjoyed the birds.

Hawks are back - Harriers and Red-tailed along with some I have yet to identify.  Lots of them though. Great Blue Herons were out, posing for photos. The Great White Pelicans were 'gulping' their way along. A few duck and pheasant hunters - the clouds were too high for most of the duck hunters. 

Here's some photos from the time..

I needed some help from my friend Nikki at Hawkwatch to identify this Merlin..

Female Kingfisher - she turned so I could see her colors better! The male was around also.

The Pelicans gulping along. 

GBH in the field..looking for voles I guess.

Toothy muskrat - caught it as we were leaving and stopped on the first bridge..