Close Encounter

I know I keep promising Eagle photos, but other cool things keep taking presidence with every day. Today brings an exciting event that happened yesterday morning.

I spied a kestral perched near a feeding station, obviously looking for a meal. As I took a few photos, it flushed as a large hawk declared seniority over the kingdom. Approaching with slick ninja moves, I cleared the cover I was under and became totally exposed, but the hawk only gave me the evil eye.



No matter what position I took and the crunchy snow gave way under my footsteps, it held it's perch, spying the vulnerable flock at the station.



It would wiggle it's tail, as it would focus on a possible victim.



I stayed for quite awhile, waiting for the unfortunate happening that never took place.



I left to let nature take it's coarse.



His gold eyeliner was a pleasant surprise in the detail captured.



The morning sun provided the perfect lighting at around 9 a.m.



It was one of those moments in photography, when you walk away shaking your head, not quite believing that you were so lucky to be so close, and leave without understanding that with most encounters, it lasts only a split second, and yet, on those uber-rare occasions, you hit the jackpot with a more-than-accomodating creature. It was a great day.

Snow Buntings!

A Hannibals Animals first--Snow Buntings!

I found these beautiful birds just after leaving the Snowy Owl on Saturday. What a great day it was! Bald Eagles, Snowy Owl, and Snow Buntings!

I blogged a week ago about field birds, the Horned Lark to be specific, and noted that the Snow Bunting was on my list to search out and photograph. This is what went down: After finding a flock and approaching at a slow creep, I managed to shoot a few frames, although it was really really windy that day. It looked as if the buntings walked sideways thru the fields, stumbling over the stubble, and having all sorts of trouble. The blowing gave them such grief that a few blew over and had to pick themselves back up. Not an easy day to be a Snow Bunting I guess, but am happy to have finally caught them.



These few photos were the only ones that turned out at all.



The buntings flew to a farm yard for what I am guessing, an easier time of walking and foraging.



trying to get flight shots proved quite difficult, but seeing their wing markings is worth a blurry photo.



Isn't it interesting that Snow Buntings have such a wide variety of color pattern variations.

Kids Will Be Kids!

I have lots of scenic eagle pictures to share, but first I would like to share some eagle behavior. I spied an eagle in the river. I found it odd, because I didn't think they would do that. I have never seen this before, so I thought it might be injured. It wasn't. A few minutes later, it's mate joined in the swim.



Do eagles swim? I didn't know, and wondered about it while watching...



They must enjoy it or they wouldn't be out there.



I even thought that my angle was weird, and that they were standing higher than I could see, and then a juvy came in...



It must be a family affair, and dad is giving piggyback rides...



Nope, mom is...




or junior would like to think so...



junior is persistant...



and mom isn't having any of it...



you are picking on the wrong eagle, junior...



seriously, he would not stop picking on her...



when she gets a hold of him, he is going into timeout...



don't think she won't dunk him...



respect is not being shown to his elder...



grounded, definately grounded...



you are going down, lil man...



How does it feel, junior? You liked it? High Five!

Fish Fight!

Another highlight of the weekend, I went to Starved Rock to shoot some more eagles. Well, I have plenty of eagle shots to post about in the coming days, but a highlight was when I focused on this seagull. It was in the lock part of the lock and dam. A barge had just passed through the lock, leaving large chunks of ice in it's wake. The seagull was focused on something...



I didn't know what he was looking at until...








...he caught a fish. Wow, I thought it was a great catch, but isn't it just a tad too big? As I think this thought all mayhem breaks loose.









A little discussion about property ensues...








Then another fair weather friend shows up...








He gives the new guy the "what's what"...










and the "who's who"...










and the "get the 'BLEEP' outta here!"










and then things get ugly, as the intruder turns around after getting cussed at and lets him have the "what's what"!










...and the "who's who"...










and "GETOUTTAHERE!"













Well, the next part of the story is blurry but I will try to recreate it:

The seagull left without the fish.

I wondered why?

I focused on some other seagulls.

Then something caught my eye.

Unbelievable!

Why didn't I see him coming?

Why didn't I look up for just a second earlier?

An eagle came in the lock and swooped (missed) for the fish on the ice.

It was just a few yards away.

I didn't see him until he was in front of me.



I reacted as quickly as I could.



The background is the lock wall.



He is flying below me.



Another notch for the "I can't believe I missed it" shots tally.



Oh well, I like to believe that my luck was spent on finding the snowy. (Which didn't happen until a few hours later.)

Weird Combination

After too many attempts over a matter of months, I have finally found a Snowy Owl. Reports over the birding hotlines have given locations to 4 separate sitings, but with each attempt to locate the snowy, I would come up empty. It's been a frustrating venture with each disappointment, nevermind the gas spent with each trip, but alas my bloggy buddies, I have finally brought home the goods:



I drove to this area, which is a windfarm under construction, seeing nothing, and then a U.F.W.T. (Unidentified Flying White Thing) sailed low to the ground past my windshield. O.M.G! I gasped in glee and waited for him to land closer rather than farther. Why they choose the land that they do is puzzling. The turbines blanket miles of this landscape with hundreds more under construction. It's such a weird combination. Anyway, he lands a few hundred feet away.








He inspects my car for threat and smiles for the camera.











Then he makes this "happy face"...











Then he yawns...










He must be REALLY tired...





Well, maybe the yawn was stress, because he suddenly flew off...










He checks to see if I am following him.









Nope, but I am still here taking his picture.









What a beautiful bird, and worth the wait.