Brown Creeper

I never get tired of these guys. While eating a delicious corn beef dinner with the fam, this Brown Creeper amused us island folk who never get to see them.

And...more Snowys

The first quick stop shot of the "turnpike Snowy" That I see every time I leave the Island. The second shot is an edit from last month. I think we will have these birds for a tad longer, seeing 6 Snowy's within the first 2 miles of the reserve last night. 

Everybody loves the sunshine

                Out for a drive with the Mrs. we found our friend enjoying the warm weather.

Northern Hawk Owl

Soo every year I try to see a Hawk Owl in some god forsaken frozen northern town, and every year I fail to find a bird. Not this year people !!! I took off from Plum at 4:30am, early bound for Waterbury Vermont. The bird was easy to locate, and only one other person around. I watched the Owl via scope on a far off snag for a while, then it took off into the forest. At this point I decided to sit in the car for a bit to warm my  frost bitten feet.  After some de-thaw I got out of the car to relocate the bird...and it litterally flew directly at me ! It landed, and perched in a tree not more than 10 feet away just starring at me. Super cool and super comical, Hawk Owls are... hilarious.  Overall an unreal birding experience....such a great trip. My buddy Forest also made an appearance from near by Pittsfield to check out the bird.   Nemesis bird no longer.

                                                                         Far off

                                                  Sometimes you have an itchy head...

Short-eared Owl's

A dusk 2 Short-eared Owls hunted the north field of the Parker. The 2 birds stuck to high altitudes and the sides of the field vs. their normal low hunting style. On the sideline a Snowy sat and watched, the short-eared were quite cautious of their large white relative and did not go out in the open much. Great to see these owls back, love watching them. Also a Merlin and pair of Northern Harriers coursed the field, a pretty active place tonight !

                                                          Coming in for a landing

When a Snowy eats you

                                      Red-breasted Merganser eaten by the one of the resident PI Snowy's.

                                                                  A far off Merlin