Happy Monday

 

Woodpecker Saturday

 Pileated in the yard today, bright sunny day.

Preening

 First time I have witnessed Janie actually preening, taking care of all those feathers! Day 18 here. Next we want her to tear up a quail all by herself, holding it in her feet. It will happen, I just know it.

Rope Expert

Nigel the 28 year-old Golden Eagle gets these treats, knots to untie for fun. The one on the left today, wasted one a week ago. He drapes them dramatically over his perches, and Bald Eagle Sonny doesn't get it. Enrichment.

Mose

I often have to remind him that he is a Labrador Retriever! 

Our Heron

Our resident Great Blue Heron, identifiable by what looks like a missing back toe on that right foot, and we see here it is just tucked under her foot for some reason, years and years here. My favorite.

Japanese Students

Perhaps our Best Ever program, 20 Japanese students Saturday with the U of M and they are the Sweetest, here with their souvenir cards taken with Nikons and Sony cameras. The Japanese connection.

More!

 

WOW! An Hour Ago!

 

Killdeer Fleglings

 

One Week Today

I have a big art show coming up at Travelers’ Rest in October and was talking to the director over there, Molly. I told her I might name the bird Sacagawea, and she said, how about  “Janie.” That’s what Lewis and Clark called her, a nickname. So meet Janie:

Janie!

Our new youngster, Peregrine Falcon from breeder Mark Bolton in Livingston. A gift as she is very small, might have vision issues, and would not be a flighted bird for falconry. So an education member and practically perfect so far, one week tomorrow. News on the way. Love her, Janie! 

Man, I Love Turkey Vultures!

 

Young Heron Today

 

Ducks Today

 

Love a Yellowlegs!

 

New

New one, drypoint etching called "Backyard Balds" and portrait of our resident pals. 15 x 12" with a bunch of pastels to finish it off. Officially run out of wall space in the office. Said that before. HA!

Greater Yellowlegs Just Now

 

Happy Hour Today

Friday fun with an Osprey perched on the eagle nest tree.

 

Here's a Good One

  Bald Eagle chasing a young Osprey at the beach.Wow!

Happy Hour at the Beach Today

 

California Quail!

 

Osprey!

Found!

I just found this forgotten pen & ink from high school, Screech Owl. I remember we made it into prints that I sold around the neighborhood...to buy music albums at the mall!  About 1976 or '77 (Talking Heads!)

Song Sparrows

Babies all over the beach, sort of.

Killdeer Today

 

A Dozen Nighthawks

 Finally!

Youngster

 A fledgling American Kestrel male down at the beach yesterday, learning how to perch!

Squaaawk!

 Our friendly Great Blue Heron always lets out a squawk resonating through the trees upon departure from a favorite limb.

"Hi Kate!"

 

Painting Days

The latest etching was an experiment, the moose in our back yard 11 years ago. First on buff paper, it was it was headed for the burn pile because it folded up like an accordion when I painted it. So I printed another edition on heavier white paper and painted that one. The water is acrylic paint. Then Saturday I rescued the buff one,  ironed it flat a dozen times and added colored pencils and pastels. ( I actually used that iron for clothes a few times, Good Will $4.99) It worked! Next - Pair of Bald Eagles, also in our yard.

"Our" Great Blue Heron

I could always tell our resident heron for years by her missing back toe on the right foot. Now I see it is simply tucked under for some reason, a deformity I guess. Wow.

Merlin Visitor

Down by the river this Merlin flew right to me from across the slough, 5 feet over my head and begged and begged. I thought he must be a falconry bird with that band, but turns out it's a research band from somewhere. Merlins are usually only around here in the winter (plus spring and fall) so a nice surprise. 

And still there yesterday, so unafraid, still begging and curious when I threw a little falconry lure with a quail leg attached. I love this bird, and appears to be the black subspecies (suckleyi).

Got This One Today

Osprey and a sucker (that's the fish, not me)

Awwww!

 Baby Black-billed Magpies from a while ago. Right out of the nest.

Brand New

Just finished this drypoint etching "Moose Splash." An experiment and printed four on a buff-colored paper that turns out, didn't like paint and buckled up with the wet gouache. So printed on the heavier standby Rives BFK 280g. Then painted the splash with acrylic, added pencils and pastels and voila! 16 by 12 inches, first mammal since New Years Eve 2024 (the fox.)

Lucky Day

One of the fledgling Great Blue Herons landed just across the river yesterday and caught 5 or 6 little fish, I lost track. And hundreds of photos pared down to 60, further editing today. But first a run to Stevensville to pick up frozen chickens for the eagles. Hey, it's Sunday!

Magpie/Peregrine

 Found these shots, minutes apart of a Black-billed Magpie and Sibley the Peregrine in 2016

What? Another Heron Photo!

Love this bird!

Bald Eagle On the Beach

Just now and she seems to like standing on one little log in the middle of the river. Flew 30 feet over my head, tame as cat, to quote my dear friend Nick Dunlop.

And Great Blue Heron nearby.

Eastern Kingbird

This little songbird loves to chase raptors, here in my yard in the same place, a Northern Harrier and Bald Eagle. See him in between the eagles wings in that last shot? HA!

Today, Dad and Fledgling

 Our Bald Eagles.