Birds and More Birds!

Time to share some of my favourite bird pictures from this spring.

Even though the weather has not been very warm,the birds are coming back.Raptor migration is happening and the numbers are fairly good.I have spent  a few days there and been able to capture a couple of special images.

On Sunday afternoon I went to the Valley and was at first disappointed,because not very many birds were passing through.At one point someone shouted out, Peregrine, and all eyes went to the sky. I was able to get several shots of this bird.What a beautiful and swift flier the Peregrine is.

Of course every bird is special.By far the majority of Raptors migrating through this Valley are Red-tailed hawks,but I still get a thrill when I see one like this soaring hove me.I really liked how the trailing edges of the wings was highlighted by the sun.

This is an equally beautiful bird,the Rough-legged Hawk.

A special treat came,when I read online that someone had seen a White-faced ibis in my area. I went out looking for it,but couldn't find it,then on Saturday I took Steve and Kai for a short ride and low and behold,I spotted the Ibis.This is a Lifer for me,so I am thrilled to have gotten several pictures as well.

Back at home I captured this portrait of a male purple Finch at the feeder.This is a gorgeous bird and I hope that before they leave my yard,I am able to get some better pictures.My little Canon SX50 is doing a good job on this bird.I like all the detail in the feathers.

We have all been waiting for spring,so with that in mind,I share this thought for today:

After winter comes the summer.

After night comes the dawn,

After every storm,there comes clear,open skies.

Samuel Rutherford

Guest Photographer

Seems that I am busy,I don't get to post very often anymore. 

Today I will share with you pictures taken by a guest photographer. I trust you will enjoy these and see the skill involved.

My son Steve and granddaughter Kai and I went for a ride today,so being a good grandmother,I gave Kai a small camera and gave her free reign. We heard that camera firing shot after shot,but had no idea what she was capturing.What follows are a few of the images she captured.Remember,she is 7 years old.

Of course she had to get a picture of her Daddy.

Grandma got her picture taken a few days ago while out on a ride with Kai and her Mom,Anita.

Driving along Kai noticed a flooded field and was quite impressed by this.I think she did a great job of capturing this scene. All I have done to this shot is to crop it a little.

Being a young girl,she likes her shoes and here is a picture of her pretty Sunday School shoes.

This picture was taken last Sunday,on another ride.

Kai took this picture of her Mom on the same day as the one of her shoes.

Finally,a self-portrait.Again,I think she did very well,of course I may be a little biased.

Those blue eyes work their way into almost any heart.

I love you Kai.Thanks for taking these pictures and thanks for being my special girl.

Off To The Valley

For those of you who follow this blog regularly,you know that one of my favourite places to bird,especially in spring,is the Pembina Valley.

Today I invite you to pile into my car,and let's take a drive to and through this valley.

As we approach the valley from the south,this is what we see.It doesn't look like much,but hold on,we are moving ahead.

Now we are at the crest of the drop off.These pictures were taken from the driver's seat and yes I was driving,but very slowly and I know that there is not much traffic here.

Note also that despite the fact that it is April 19 when these pictures were taken,there is no greening of the trees and still snow on the ground. This is not typical,but this year winter is hanging on for too long.

As we continue we see this. What is going on here? Oh,you guessed it,did you? Yes,it is a typical day during the annual Hawkwatch. On this day there were only three vehicles,and mine was about to join them,but often there are many more.What do these people hope to see?

This is what they are hoping for and most likely won't be disappointed  Here is a Red-tailed Hawk soaring past,it's trailing edges of the wings highlighted by the sun. Standing at the side of the road with eyes to the sky is so worth it when we see things like this.But we are driving through right now,so we must carry on.

 The road is very winding as we make our way down.I don't ever get tired of these views and they change with the seasons.Some day I will take you through here again,perhaps in summer and again in fall.

Our final look,as we are almost at the bridge which crosses the Pembina River. You can see the road as it snakes it's way up on the other side.This is a beautiful drive and what I really like,it is only a half hour drive from my home.

I hope you enjoyed this little drive with me.Let's do it again,soon.

Have a beautiful day and don't forget to thank the Lord for creating such beauty,for us to enjoy.

Eagles and More

The time between posts has gotten way too long.Part of the reason is because as I am tired of taking snow pictures,so I think,others must be tired of seeing them.

Signs of spring are around and I like seeing that.I saw my first Mourning Dove today,but alas,no chance of a picture.

As I have mentioned earlier,the annual Hawkwatch at the Pembina Valley is in full swing.

The birds are migrating even during cold days.It does not matter how cold the wind may be,seeing an adult bald Eagle in the sky,like this,warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.

 Canon 7D,100-400mm lens 

This bird may not look quite as majestic,but it is equally as beautiful as a Bald Eagle.This is an adult Golden Eagle.These two pictures show some of the differences in these birds,besides colouring.

Notice the broad straight wings of the Bald Eagle compared those of the Golden Eagle.Of course there are other differences,but this is not a site for bird ID,but a place to enjoy the beauty of these birds.                     

 Canon 7D,100-400mm lens

At a place away from the valley the eagles have a free buffet of food thrown on the fields by the local Hutterite Colony.It is usually safe to say that there will be eagles here and on this day I was not disappointed. One adult and two immature Bald Eagles perched on one branch,making for a good photo opportunity.

 Canon SX50 IS

Walking out of my house one day,I spied a tree full of Bohemian Waxwings.As is often the case with Waxwings,I saw them that day and have not seen them since.

 Canon SX50 IS

This seems to be the year for deer.While driving around the countryside,I came upon a field with old hay bales on it and a lot of White-tailed Deer enjoying the free food.

Canon SX50 IS

Winter is hesitant to leave us this year,but we do know that spring and summer will come.

For those in the path of either winter storms or other severe weather,please stay safe.

Raptors

I attended a Raptor Awareness Festival today,but the only birds I saw there were ones which are in captivity for a variety of reasons.It is a good opportunity to see these magnificent birds up close.

This beautiful Peregrine Falcon posed so perfectly while I took her picture. Just look at the details in her feathers and then to think that this bird is one of the fastest fliers in the avian world. This bird or at least one like it can each speeds of up to 322kph/200mph in a dive. This makes it the fastest member of the animal kingdom,this according to wikipedia.

Since the wild birds were not flying at the festival,I took the long way round to go home and went through the Pembina Valley to check on the Hawkwatch there. Even before I got to the watch site,I saw Bald Eagles feeding on a carcass on the field.These are two juveniles.

When I got to the watch site,I was told that birding was very slow,but I guess they were waiting for me to arrive. Shortly after getting there a number of Red-tailed Hawks came over.

This picture and the one above are the same bird,but I think they are so beautiful,even under an overcast sky and a few snowflakes coming down.

On my way out of the valley,I spied at least four Eastern Bluebirds.They were not very cooperative but I managed this shot of two sitting on a fence. If the sun had been out their colour would stand out so much better.

Watching these birds gives me so much pleasure. I feel a calmness when I am out there observing God's creation in the wild.

Happy Birthday Steve

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