Dipper = Water Ouzel

Cold night on the beach and a Dipper was catching sub-surface invertebrates = dipping.

Eagles All Over

It's been a tradition to go look for new Peregrine nests on Jay Sumner's birthday which was today, and great fun up the Blackfoot. No new falcons but found a maybe-new Bald Eagle nest at Greenough. We will alert the authorities. Plus, the nest on the Clark Fork starring the birds in my book that came out last year - they appear to be incubuating. And the one nest in the back yard too. Brace yourselves for Bald Eagle photos ad nauseum. 

Pileated On the Pole

This woodpecker was just on the phone pole in the driveway, right where the Harris's Hawk always perches and pigeons line up on the wire. Female Pileated Woodpeckers have less red on the head, and she was hammering on the pole, not for insects but to proclaim, "This is my yard!" When I was a kid we had these things on every house called TV antennas, and woodpeckers learned that they were perfect resonators. It was a common sound back then, that metallic tapping to mark nesting territories. Just like sonic booms and Passenger Pigeons.

Raptor Round-Up 45

It's Up! The whole 8 pages on line, and in living color. I sent out 200 copies in the mail yesterday, and all good news: Our new kestrels and book, Peregrine Watch, snowy winter, upcoming programs, Bald Eagle nest, over 30 photos...WOW! Read it here. Also check out some past issues, and we've come a way since Raptor Round Up #1 in 1998, cutting and pasting with scissors and tape.

Tonight

A fish delivery to the nest and then off in the wild blue (or white) yonder.

A Shout Out

To eagle fans, and those that love Killdeer. A dozen on the beach, Killdeer that is, and yes, these two are mating. Several were here all winter, and wonder how they coped with the blizzards. Now even more are racing around, and such a welcome sight and sound.

Sandhills and a Deer at Lee Metcalf Today

Happy Spring

Sonora the Aplomado Falcon and I celebrated the first day of spring today by finishing Raptor Round-Up Newsletter Number 45, off to Pyramid Printers tomorrow.  What the heck is she standing on, you ask. A plastic wombat in her left foot, pangolin in her right, and she'll stand there for hours looking out the window in the office. Other toys scattered about are gifts from our pal, Keith Fialcowitz who can't resist an authentic-looking miniature marsupial. Or reptile and amphibian for that matter. Miss you Keith and happy spring!

Fellow Photographers

Rule of thumb: the minute you pack up your camera and tripod to leave is when something will happen. Tonight I was on the beach for over an hour, pacing and looking up and down river, and then decided enough is enough, time to head home. Nikon back in the backpack, in comes the eagle and exactly then, a big cloud bank ruined the light. Still got this but if only...
Writing the Raptor Round-Up Newsletter, 4 of 8 pages so far, so check your mail next week. And on the web site in living color.

Kingfisher Today

At Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge down the road. Deborah Gosland reported a Peregrine Falcon flying there earlier this week, so she wins for the first reported in the state. Come on over Deb to collect your prize!

March Madness

Some photos from last night. The news is I heard a Saw-whet Owl calling across the slough at dark, so now another distraction - got to find him in the crosshairs of the 500 mm lens. Bigger news is that the new book is done, sent off to my friend John Smallwood for science edits. He's the leading expert and author of the Birds of North America species account for American Kestrels, and a killer rock guitarist and aficionado. So science edits, then Mountain Press Publishing works their magic, and then off to print. Out this year! WHEW!

Sibley's Season

Falcon flying season is drawing to a close, seven months starting September first when upland game bird hunting opens for falconers. By this time of year, the pheasants are wise and tough, and Sibley the Peregrine has pretty much lost interest. Plus, we have a bit of spring weather, amazing after the recent blizzards and snow. That inspires some territorial defense behavior and the occasional aggressive hawk or eagle. So sorry, Sib, and here she is flying Saturday. Maybe one last hunt, then time to molt (and she'll probably lay a bunch of eggs again.)

MTFWP & MDOT

I hosted friends from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Department of Transportation yesterday on the beach behind the house. Kristi Dubois discovered this Bald Eagle nest in 2011, flying the river to monitor nests for FWP and the Bald Eagle Working Group. That year the pair was  unsuccessful, but they fledged young the next two years. We were joined by Linda Dworak from the DOT, also interested in the nest and from the standpoint of the new bridge construction just upstream 500 yards. Thankfully, the commotion doesn't seem to be too disturbing to the eagles, and looks like incubation just began. DOT will wait until the young fledge in mid- July for the major noise. Thankfully.

Belted Kingfisher

An honorary raptor, like the Northern Shrike. Tonight: