"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.

Awwwww!

 Cute little pigeons, just out of their eggs hours old. Just kidding about the cute.

And the fledgling Great Blue Heron was waving at us yesterday. Kidding again and just scratching her head.

2011 News

 

Bald Eagle Fledglings

 Bugging our eagles until the dogs chase them off!

Red Squirrel

 The native ones!

Youngster

Great Blue Heron at the beach today, fledgling.

 

Tonight

New One

 Brand new and "Northern Goshawk." Just finished this one today, from some photos of my visit to the Big Hole with Jack Kirkley who installed me in a blind at the nest. It’s when the female knew something was up and gave me that look. HA ! A drypoint etching with acrylic and gouache paint, plus pastels. 10" x 13”.

Happy Birthday Mose

Four years old today!

 

Nigel at the Library

What fun at the Missoula Public Library yesterday and turns out our "host" Xavier saw us at a program at Florence school when in 1st grade. Teacher Byron Weber had the kids vote on one bird to adopt. Peregrine? All hands went up. Great Horned Owl? All hands as well. Byron turned to me and said, "We will learn democracy tomorrow." HA! Fun at then schools and libraries all over the place. Nigel the Golden Eagle here.

Missoula Public Library

Join us tomorrow (Saturday) for a Raptor program at the "new" Missoula Public Library downtown at 1 pm. Free and school-aged kids please, up on the 4th floor in the big Cooper Room. A PowerPoint and Teaching Team Birds, Little Billie the Northern Saw-whet Owl, Sonora the Aplomado Falcon, Jillian the Great Horned Owl and TED Talk star, and one BIG surprise!

MCAT Returns, Again

Missoula Community Access Television's Young Filmmakers' Camp, every year! Yesterday we had a great one and actually started doing these with the International Wildlife Film Festival and Ron Scholl back in Clinton in 1989, if you can believe it. Five films featuring our resident raptors, then a trip to the river. Thanks Scott and Neil and young film enthusiasts. MCAT!

Eagles Friends?

 Man O Man, the female fledgling Bald Eagle wanted some food from our eagles today, Nigel the Golden Eagle did not care bit, a few feet apart. And still there, this shot.

Owen the Owl

Here's a fun one of Owen the Northern Saw-whet Owl "caching" (actually hiding and storing) his half-eaten mice in his building in 2012, maybe to finish eating later. Doubt it. Cracks me up.

The Resident Almighty!

 I would never have spotted "our" heron if I hadn't seen her land by our little slough bridge today. Blending in. And probably a male...oh well.

Cleaning Day

I brought Mischa the Peregrine inside, protesting galore on the trip but okay on her perch, mostly. This bums me out beyond description, as she was the sweetest bird I have ever met until we had to move her away from the new warehouse by her enclosure. Then cleaned her building and the dogs may have found some quail treats in the old pine needles.

GBH

The beautiful, melodic song of the Great Blue Heron, Beth. SQUAWKKKK! 

Sonora

Sonora our Aplomado Falcon Pal comes inside most days of the week, spends cold winter nights on a perch in the spare bedroom, and here is a shot taken from outside the front window. She has a bunch of programs in the next few weeks, taking over for the late Sibley the Peregrine. Too bad Mischa the Peregrine, her cousin, refuses any form of travel, like leaving her building. A shame and not getting any better.

 

Wow!

What an image, and a new friend set me this: "Owl taken near Darby, Montana. Once in a lifetime." She approached this Great Horned Owl in the dark and snapped this shot with her smart phone, one eye lighting up with the flash!

Kids- Great Blue Herons

Another fledgling pair last week, this time Great Blue Herons and snapshots from a shoulder-high thistle patch, eaten alive my mosquitoes, but got 'em.

 

Our Boy

Poser!

 

Two More

 

Fish Today

 The male brought a fish in but I missed it by 20 seconds, oh well. 

A little sibling rivalry and the nearby one wanted that!

Wabbit At the Woodpile!

Totally safe and loved (and dogs wonder where she goes.) In the woodpile! 

Fledglings

Five times since the nest was built in 2011, the backyard Bald Eagles have fledged three youngsters, eggs started on March 5th. The lovely perch has since washed away. July 14th, 2017.

Red-tail

We survived the neighborhood artillery fire last evening. Sonora spent the night inside and Sonny the Bald Eagle was totally freaked. I was afraid he would have a heart attack, his roommate Nigel the Golden Eagle was unperturbed. Safe for another year and a newly fledged Red-tailed Hawk flew by, immaculate plumage.

Have A Good One!