This osprey flew right at me. It is the first osprey sighting of the new year for me and a good harbinger of spring.
I saw this on a park on the Hudson River in New York. It followed what looked like a creek upstream. We looked at the trees around the wetland and the creek like area, but could see no sign of it. It was not the best lighting being before sunset and mostly cloudy, but I will take it. Have a great Friday.
These are not the best images, but at least I got to see this. If I remember right I was standing in front of the viewing platform when this shorty caught a vole then was immediately chased by a harrier hawk. The short-eared owl flew circles around the platform with the vole then flew off as another harrier hawk joined the pursuit.
As the owl flew off it flew in circles higher and higher until you could not see it anymore. I think the harriers gave up, but I could be wrong.
It all happened so fast it was hard to get focused pictures when you were trying to keep the owl in frame so close and work around the other people standing close to you in the area. As I said, I am just happy to have seen this. There have been no sightings in over a week. We are hoping they left early this year and it is not due to the avian flu. One young eagle south of here along the river recently had it. Have a great week!
I stopped by a park on the Hudson River in New York on the way home from work a few weeks ago. A younger eagle was sitting in a tree by the river. This adult flew by a few times checking on it and obviously checking me out as well. It gave me a look as it approached.
It seemed to decide I was okay and flew back to an area where the land on the river appeared to be private property. I am not sure if it had a nest in that area or if these were eagles wintering in the area.
I have been missing out on some good days to view wildlife lately. My car finally gave out. It was the hybrid battery. I put just under 367,000 miles on the car. I was hoping to make it to 400,000, but the math isn’t mathing to replace the battery. Hopefully, I will have another car soon and be able to enjoy more adventures. Have a safe and happy weekend!
I saw these on a body of water near the Hudson River in New York. They were not very close, so these are taken with a zoom lens and cropped a bit. I wish I could see them closer. Maybe some day I will get that opportunity.
This is identified as an adult male by All About Birds. New York is in their year round range.
Have a great rest of your week.
I understand they have not been seen for a week. It has been very windy. Hopefully, they are still around, otherwise they may have already headed north.
Avian flu is in the area, so hopefully it is not that. Have a great week!
I stopped on my way home from work again at a park on the Hudson River. I arrived to see this young eagle in a tree eating a fish. Next, I hope to see it catch one. I just missed it again.
He had to look all around as other young eagles, adult eagles and vultures were circled around overhead.
There was quite a bit of overhead traffic. I think they needed an air traffic controller.
I am guessing the adult eagle was circling to make sure they did not get to close to the young eagle and the vultures were interested in that fish. I am guessing this may be a 2nd year eagle. What do you think?
I stopped by public land on my way home from work. This land is right on the Hudson River. I was able to see this young eagle not far from where I parked my car.
I also saw a full adult eagle fly by a few times seemingly checking up on junior. I was hoping it would fly out and catch a fish, but I was told he had just caught one and ate it prior to my arrival.
It was still nice seeing one regardless. Maybe one day I can watch them catch fish. Have a great weekend!
I love it when the owls fly right towards you, especially in good lighting conditions. Most of the time they come up a little before before sunset, but sometimes they come up earlier.
A quote from Helen Keller:
Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.
In the case of the owls, occasionally they look people straight in the eye. On this large piece of land where people can only stand on a very small section of it, it is great to see the owls come up close to people and look them in the eye. Enjoy your week.
This screech owl was in a tree close to a little traveled road. Cars stopping in front of the tree did not wake it. Construction vehicles, and aircraft flying around did not awaken it. Other wildlife could not rouse it. It is one heavy sleeper.
I was rooting for this bird, I think a nuthatch, to wake it up. It flew from another nearby tree and proceeded to walk down the owl’s tree towards the hole. I think it thought it was not such a good idea to go further. According to All About Birds:
The Eastern Screech-Owl is known to eat a variety of songbirds, including the European Starling.
This was the closest it got to opening its eyes. This bird must have been tired out from hunting during the night. It could also be a good sleeper. Can you sleep through a variety of noises?
Usually you do not see short-eared owls on very windy days. Sometimes you are lucky. Since there is ice covering the ground I think that caused some of the shorties to come up well before sunset.
Some used that to their advantage to ride the wind and seemingly hover when they were hunting.
This one landed on a post in front of where we were allowed to stand. Lucky us! It seemed to battle the wind to stay on the post.
Sometimes windy days can be good days. Have a great rest of your weekend.
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