Five years ago, Oct. 13, 2011
Five years ago today, 10/13/2011, a Peregrine Falcon portrait taken at the Ridgefield NWR. The tree this bird is perched on has since blown over–once a great place to shoot many raptors close up. We...
View ArticleYoungster from five years ago
A look back at a gorgeous fledgling Great Horned Owl at the Ridgefield NWR, May 4, 2011. This was when the resident momma owl was nesting in a tall stump right along the road on the 4-mile auto tour...
View ArticleMale Northern Harrier with contrails at dusk
I made it out to shoot after about an 8-week hiatus. It’s good to be back! Near the end of the shooting day at the Ridgefield NWR, Oct. 28, 2016, I spotted this male Northern Harrier at a good...
View ArticleMajestic or Sunbathing??
This fellow seems to be taking the afternoon off from being majestic. Taken Oct. 28, 2016, at the Ridgefield NWR at several hundred feet away, this bird caught my eye as he posed in the fashion known...
View ArticleNon-stressful Kestrel
Typically, when a bird is holding onto the branch with just one foot, it’s in relaxation mode–hence, the title of today’s American Kestrel shot, “Non-stressful Kestrel.” Taken Nov. 4, 2016, at the...
View ArticleFlying By
A large-eyed Red-tailed Hawk flies by at the Ridgefield NWR, Nov. 4, 2016. The raptors are really starting to populate the refuge again for the cool season. Canon 7D Mark II, 1/1250, f4, ISO 500,...
View ArticleInitial liftoff wing flap
I spent the daylight hours today, Nov. 17, 2016, at the Ridgefield NWR, where the day started out dark with a heavy cloud cover, but became brighter as the day progressed. This is a Red-tailed Hawk...
View ArticleLow Flyer!
I caught this gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk flying low over the dike at Rest Lake on the Ridgefield NWR, Nov. 25, 2016. It’s fun to see so many hawks, and to a lesser extent, eagles at the refuge this time...
View ArticleGoing in for the kill
A Northern Harrier comes in for the kill at the Ridgefield NWR, Nov. 29, 2016. One of the next frames showed the bird carrying off a good sized vole but it was flying away from me. Canon 5D Mark III,...
View ArticleYour reaction when…
the Harrier next door scares the living daylights out of you on your own patio! This Red-tailed Hawk was minding its own business when the Northern Harrier flew in unexpectedly. The harrier buzzed...
View ArticleDuck for Lunch
This Bald Eagle circled a small tree and finally made its dive in the marshy waters, easily snatching a duck. The eagle then checks its catch as it ascends from the dive and flies over to a nearby...
View Article8 Seconds before the catch
This is the same 3-year old Bald Eagle that I posted two days ago but this shot was taken 8 seconds prior to the last one where he has the duck. LARGEVIEW! Canon 7D Mark II, 1/2500, f4, ISO 500, 500mm,...
View Article“Howdy down there!”
This American Kestrel hovered right above the road up about 50 feet at the Ridgefield NWR, Dec. 6, 2016. Typically, they’ll hover in position for 15-20 seconds and either dive for a catch or move on...
View ArticleBlast from the Past
This image revisits one of the most memorable eagle confrontations in my 10 years of shooting birds. Taken in Dec. 2014 at the Ridgefield NWR. Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 1600, 500mm, 9:25 a.m.
View ArticlePost Landing
A little far away on this one — an American Kestrel had just landed on this small post at the Ridgefield NWR, Nov. 25, 2016. Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 2500, 500mm, 8:58 a.m.
View ArticleSittin’ on top of the world
A nice day out on the refuge today (Dec. 29, 2016) at Ridgefield. Conditions were mixed, ranging from bright sun to heavy clouds (but no rain). This picture was taken after the clouds moved in during...
View ArticleDetermination
A take off shot of the Bald Eagle at the Ridgefield NWR, Dec. 29, 2016. Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250 f4, ISO 2500, 500mm, 2:46 p.m.
View Article“Happy 2017!”
On a chilly Jan. 4, 2017, at the Ridgefield NWR, this Red-tailed Hawk is sending out New Year’s greetings to everyone. LARGEVIEW! Canon 5D Mark III, 1/400, f4, ISO 1600, 500mm, 8:40 a.m.
View ArticleOl’ Pale Face
This is one of about a half dozen Bald Eagles that were taking part in some kind of eagle get-together at the Ridgefield NWR, January, 4, 2017. There were no fewer than six birds soaring in circles in...
View ArticleEagle Taking Flight
This immature Bald Eagle was on the ground accompanied by a crow that stayed very close. Once the eagle took off, the crow did too, and flew with the eagle, pestering it for hundreds of feet in an...
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