Refuge Friday

Sunnfy Friday and lots of folks eat the refuge. Word is apparently out that there are eagles(s) there, almost a traffic jam in front of where the eagle was.

Tundra swans were my favorite - mostly unexpected but so elegant. The Harriers were expected, not paying a lot of attention to vehicles.

Enjoy

Eagle had something to eat..sat in tree for well over an hour and entertained lots of visitors..

Female Harrier

No visit is complete without a RWB photo

Tundra swans..always a joy to see..

Refuge Monday

 Partly sunny at the refuge yesterday.Very few people, quite a variety of birds. A Kestrel followed me until it was satisfied that I had taken a good photo of it! Eagles in trees, Sandhill cranes talking and flying by, and lots of Red-winged Blackbirds singing..

Enjoy!

Three Bald eagles in the trees, beautiful in the sunlight.

Great Blue Herons hunting..very tolerant of people with cameras quite close to them..

Male Northern Harrier, aka Grey Ghost, checking me out..

My buddy, the American Kestrel...

Being very cautious in the open field, he finally stuck his head up!

Red-tailed hawk in tree..it was turning around to look at me but when you are quite big on a very small limb it can be challenging..

The melody makers of the wetlands..Red-winged blackbird singing..

Finally, classic photos of Sandhill Cranes flying by. 

Backyard Birds..

 With several bird feeders, our backyard is often filled with birds. Most are the smaller kind, finches, goldfinches, chickadees and warblers, but some are raptors..mostly a Cooper's hawk who shows regularly. 

As a friend of mine has said, in the outdoors "everything is a restaurant, you're either being eaten or eating"

Here's some of our visitors..

Goldfinch..

Black-capped chickadee

Juvenile Cooper's hawk

Adult Cooper's hawk

Song sparrow