Refuge Friday

 Friday was a bit cloudy but light enough for photography at the refuge. I arrived earlier than usual - more like 8am - and found no people around for the next hour! It turned out to be a good day for birds, just not raptors.

I kept busy with heron fly byes, a pelican targeting me, Great white egret fishing, lots of red-winged blackbirds, yellow-headed blackbirds AND a couple of new birds...a Wilsons snipe and a Loggerhead shrike! Fascinating!

Here’s my favorites so far..enjoy!!

Loggerhead shrike - fascinating bird..it often impales it’s catch on plant spikes or barbed wire to eat later!!

Turkey vultures just hanging out!

Not surprisingly, Red-winged blackbirds were everywhere..

Great white pelican was flying directly at me while I was driving .. mating season by the lump on it’s beak..

Shorebirds are here..I found some Black-necked stilts also. These are American avocets

Awesome Great white egret fishing!!

I’ve seen Great blue herons on these tall power poles before, but when I looked at the picture I could see why..no 4-legged hunter will reach these nests..

It was the day of the Pheasant at the refuge..I saw 4 separate males..love their colors..

I’ve heard of Snipes before but never had seen one..Wilsons snipe

And a final shot of the shrike - it stuck with me all the time I was on Goose Egg hill..

Antelope Island Saturday

The weather forecast was accurate this morning, so Randy and I visited Antelope Island early before the rain. Moisture-laden air created a fog-like atmosphere for a while, then it cleared and a bit of sun shone!

Lots of people out there..apparently a series of races were run Friday and the people were the leftovers! 

Quite a few bison along with Mule deer, antelope, a coyote, Long-billed curlews, Meadowlarks, Harriers, Red-tailed hawk and Chukar partridge..a good wildlife day.

Here’s some of my favorites from the day!

Mulies!! Male and female hanging out together!

Burrowing owl...little cuties..

Wary but not scared..Wily coyote..

Red-tailed hawk hovering nearby as it hunted..

Long-billed curlew, they stop by during their mating season. 

Meadowlarks make the island trip sing!

Finally found antelope - Mom and a couple of kids..

 

A bit of perspective on sizes..

Springtime - time for a haircut and a shave!!

Refuge Friday

I visited the refuge today, it is the last day that you can drive the entire road. Starting tomorrow, the DNR closes off a large section of the dike road so the breeding birds and their offspring have a safe place to be.

A decent crowd of birders/photographers were there and the Sandhill cranes entertained them. There was a group of 4 early on and they were very available from the road. The later two were quite a ways down the road and not easily visible. These two also provided me with the photos of the 'dancer' crane...a feature of the mating process. The male spreads his wings and jumps in the air and makes a lot of noise. Quite fun to watch.

There were Harriers, Kestrels, Great Blue Herons, Bald eagles and pheasants around..a great show. Here's a few of my favorites from the day..

Sandhill cranes in formation..big birds with a 7 foot wingspan makes it a challenge to be in close formation, but they did it..

Bald Eagle..

Great Blue heron with nesting material...

Male Harrier, aka Grey Ghost, posed for me and gave me a bunch of wonderful opportunities..

The Sandhill crane mating ceremony....The male is the main actor..

Looking grumpy and depressed..juvenile Black-crowned Night heron..

A refuge visit must include a Kestrel photo..

A Killdeer couple...

Red-winged Blackbirds are everywhere..a challenge to get a new perspective on them..

Refuge Monday

Sandhill cranes and Kestrels...almost everywhere. I was able to get photos of the cranes but only a few of the kestrels as they are in movement most of the time ..plus easily spooked..

The cranes flew up from places I’d not seen them in before. This made for a few challenges, but that’s what’s fun..

Enjoy!

A new bird for me...Gadwall.  Female top and male bottom. Very unique colors in the males feathers.

One Kestrel

There’s fishing and there’s catching...aptly demonstrated below..

The stars of yesterday now..Sandhill cranes..aand they are noisy..

This Blue Heron was a surprise to me...flying along and suddenly it dove and started loudly squawking..Apparently at a Harrier nearby.. It dove after the Harrier but didn’t come close.

Tundra swans resting on the migration flight..

Kestrel..He and his mate were sitting on the house, she took off as I stopped. 

Antelope Island on Saturday

 We drove up to Antelope Island Saturday, despite the snowstorm possibilities. Our faith was rewarded by slowly disappearing clouds and somewhat blue skies.

It was coyote day on the island. We saw at least 5, including watching two young ones as we came and then as we left. ‘Scruffing in the snow, hunting and just lolygagging around..just like dogs..

The chukar partridges were a welcome surprise. I used to always see them on the Island but hadn’t for a couple of years. This trip we not only saw a flock, but got to watch a dust-up between two of them. Vicious little devils!

Here’s a few favorites from yesterday ...

Lone antelope monitoring the buffalo..

Sunrise on nearby mountains..always extra special when seen from the Island..

One of two younger coyotes seen back near the ranch..loping along to join it’s brother across the road..

Nice looking porcupine hanging out in the Russian olive trees..

These next three follow the young-uns along the causeway on our way out.

The Leap was followed by a successful meal..

Floating in the air as he heads toward his prey..

These chukars were way up on the hillside above the new campgrounds..Two of them engaged in a vicious-looking battle while the others nonchalantly looked on.....