Refuge Monday

 A sunny day that filled up with smog later on. Lots of ice on the water, not many ducks around. Kestrels and Harriers were the dominant raptors, no eagles in sight. One GBH trying to stay warm..

Enjoy!

One lone GBH trying to stay warm..

The Grey Ghost aka male Harrier...

Kestrels were being super cute...

Northern Harrier hunting..

Wintertime peacefulness..

Winter Meadowlark..no singing as opposed to the Summer Meadowlark that sings..(same bird)..

Backyard Birds..

 With our snow and cooler weather the small birds have been quite active. Not much sunlight, so a bit challenging to get a partially decent photo, but what else do I have to do?

Here's some results..

A bird in the bush...Lesser Goldfinch..

House finch in flight..not much skill here, just in the right place at the right time..

Then the Juncos..on the ground, in the tree and on the feeder..

Refuge Monday

Another quiet day at the marshlands. A few more migrants have shown up - two Bald Eagles and several Harriers. The Rough-legged continues to display - Perhaps it is angling for a photo shoot!

It's encouraging to see the activity increase..I'll check again after this storm passes through.

Enjoy!!

Rough-legged...

Red-tailed hawk with crows harassing it..

Northern Shoveler on ice..

Refuge Tuesday

The refuge continues to be fairly quiet as far as raptors are concerned. The numbers are slowly increasing..three Kestrels, 5 Harriers and the first Rough-legged of the season. No eagles in sight. Lots of ducks..sometimes the water looks like it is made up of black dots.

Lighting was rough..started sunny then clouds and smog came in. 

Lots of these beautiful Pintails..

Caught the Rough-legged hovering. Never did go down after its prey.  Sure is a beautiful being..

Common Merganser, male...

These Black-crowned Night Herons were gathered together after a Harrier had disrupted whatever they were doing. Counted 8.

Several GBH's hanging out, some in the shrubs on the side of the road and some like this one..