Mixed Bag of Critters

[PrescottPhotog]

Hi Everyone,

A few shots that have been gathering dust on my hard drive, thought you might enjoy them.
I fixed the broken link to the Northern Harrier - Adult Male

Comments are welcome as always.

#1 - American Kestrel
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/ak_1.jpg
#2 - American Kestrel
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/ak_2.jpg
#3 - American Kestrel
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/ak_3.jpg
#4 - American Kestrel
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/ak_4.jpg
#5 - Canada Goose
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/goose_1.jpg
#6 - Northern Harrier - Adult Male
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/nha_1.jpg
#7 - Red-Tailed Hawk
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/rth_1.jpg
#8 - Tundra Swan - Immature (all by itself - stayed here for about a week)
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/swan_1.jpg
#9 - Tundra Swan - Immature (all by itself - stayed here for about a week)
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/swam_2.jpg
#10 - Tundra Swan - Immature (all by itself - stayed here for about a week)
http://webblinks.com/postings/mixed_121907/swam_3.jpg

[leaforte]

That goose in #8 has his eye on you!:wink

I like all the goose shots, especially. The colors on the water seem to make the geese at home.

[ShepsMom]

Got to go with goose in flight. Excellent! :thumb

[Giphsub]

Excellent series Chris! :thumb What is that little fella in the first few shots? Beautiful bird. Some kind of raptor I take it?

[PrescottPhotog]

That goose in #8 has his eye on you!:wink

I like all the goose shots, especially. The colors on the water seem to make the geese at home.

Hi Leaforte, Thanks for your comments and for viewing. The Northern Harrier Adult Male had a broken link.. now repaired

[PrescottPhotog]

Got to go with goose in flight. Excellent! :thumb

Hi Marina, Thanks for viewing and for your comments.

[PrescottPhotog]

Excellent series Chris! :thumb What is that little fella in the first few shots? Beautiful bird. Some kind of raptor I take it?

Hi Mike, Thanks for your comments. I went back and labeled all the birds and corrected a link to the Northern Harrier that was broken.

The little guy you asked about is an American Kestrel. A very small bird of prey that has huge talons for its size. They fly along and then hover (like a hummingbird) over the bushes looking for critters. They are fun to watch but hard to photo because they are so small.

[Cracker]

Excellent work. I just love coming to this forum and starting my day by looking at such incredibly beautiful photography.

Graham

[Harryb]

Good set those kestrels are not an easy capture. :clap

[Giphsub]

Thanks Chris! He is a beautiful bird indeed! I am gonna have to start getting these bird names/types in my head! I have a terrible memory.

[raptorcaptor]

All good but the Northern Harrier is my favorite!

[Maestro]

The Northern Harrier is the best one in this set for me although my daughter loved the swan. :D

[PrescottPhotog]

Thanks for the great comments from everyone that posted. I was hand holding the day I got the Kestrel shots, it was tough holding the big glass steady on such a small critter that was stationary.

There are several Red-Tailed Hawks in the area but they sure are skittish this year and won't come anywhere close. We had 3 last year but I heard that the kids shot them. Don't know if this is true or means anything but they stay far away for some reason.

The Swan was beautiful. It was all by itself and came swimming toward me one day. It showed up just about the time the single Pelican that was here for about a month left. It didn't stay long but you sure can't miss the big birds on the lake, especially when both are almost white.

The Northern Harriers are all over the place this year. They are pairing off and dive bombing each other in their "in air" courting dance. It's fun to watch but they haven't come close enough to capture the locking talons yet.