Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Harrier Lunch
9:41 PM
Ryan Ankeny
I saw this bird hovering and swoop down and grab lunch. When he came up with it there were clumps of grass falling to the ground. Whatever it is it looks rather large or possibly a mouse wrapped in a bunch of vegetation.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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Rough-legged Hawk
6:19 PM
Ryan Ankeny
Some days I bring my camera to work, other days I leave it at home so there are less things to carry around. Unfortunately today was one of the days I left home without it. I won't be making that mistake again anytime soon because you never know what you are going to see out at the landfill. Turns out today that it was something special. A Rough-legged Hawk was seen hovering some 50 feet away from the truck and dropping down on prey. He was so close and I didn't have my camera. After around two minutes he was gone over the side of a hill. I was mad I missed my opportunity.
All was not lost however. I made a call to my wonderful wife and she brought me my camera. With it in tow I went looking for the Rough-legged Hawk and it didn't take long to find it again. The pictures I was able to get were nowhere near as good as my first opportunity, but I was close enough to capture a few shots of it in flight that clearly show field marks. The black belly, white tail with a black band, black at the bend of the wings and along the wing edges.
The photos are nothing special but they do serve as photographic evidence.
This is not a common bird for Jefferson County. They are usually seen in Kentucky around the strip mine areas of Ohio and Muhlenburg counties. It was begin harassed by the Red-tailed Hawks the entire time I saw him so there is no telling how long it will stay around. You can see a Red-tail Hawk in the third photo on the bottom of the picture. Good finds like this make for great days.
All was not lost however. I made a call to my wonderful wife and she brought me my camera. With it in tow I went looking for the Rough-legged Hawk and it didn't take long to find it again. The pictures I was able to get were nowhere near as good as my first opportunity, but I was close enough to capture a few shots of it in flight that clearly show field marks. The black belly, white tail with a black band, black at the bend of the wings and along the wing edges.
The photos are nothing special but they do serve as photographic evidence.
This is not a common bird for Jefferson County. They are usually seen in Kentucky around the strip mine areas of Ohio and Muhlenburg counties. It was begin harassed by the Red-tailed Hawks the entire time I saw him so there is no telling how long it will stay around. You can see a Red-tail Hawk in the third photo on the bottom of the picture. Good finds like this make for great days.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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Immature Horned Lark
6:35 PM
Ryan Ankeny
I know there are a thousand pictures of Horned Larks on this website, but they are such willing subjects, so I posted a few more.
Monday, February 8, 2010
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More Tree Sparrows
6:08 PM
Ryan Ankeny
The American Tree Sparrows were back again today, as were the Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs. I guess that means more snow must be on the way.
The Red-winged Blackbirds have been showing up in the evening before dark. They usually roost in the hundreds if not thousands in the wetlands come early spring. Also saw a small flock of Common Grackles overhead for the first time this year. Despite what the weatherman says I know spring is not far off.
The Red-winged Blackbirds have been showing up in the evening before dark. They usually roost in the hundreds if not thousands in the wetlands come early spring. Also saw a small flock of Common Grackles overhead for the first time this year. Despite what the weatherman says I know spring is not far off.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
