Diana and I were fortunate enough to be able to spend time at Sea Ranch, CA with friends. No shortage of beauty there, just time and energy to immerse yourself in it. Here's some shots that I like..
Up and down the hills by the water these little birds are always moving..
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..
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,..
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..
Collected over time, this variety of views inspires me often, reminding me of the beauty in both small and large landscapes.
Enjoy..
Beauty and the beasts
Duck hunting is underway, lots of noise and traffic at the refuge. But in a quiet time on the top of Goose Egg hill, I found a Merlin and a Cooper's. A Snowy Egret flyby along with capturing a couple along the drive made for most of my action. A couple of Harriers were hunting and a Kestrel darted about, nothing worth photographing.
Enjoy!
The Merlin..
An early morning at Silver Lake to find moose resulted in watching a beaver cut down a small aspen tree in front of us. Fascinating! Several deer and another beaver later still no moose to see. Oh well!
Here's some of the interesting shots from the trip..
