Environment:
Start Time: 7:15 AM Temperature: 64 degrees Sky: Mostly sunshine.
I got a little more action and some variety on my trek this morning. You couldn’t have asked for better conditions (except maybe a little cooler) to be out by the Arkansas River. Pictured here is a female Red-winged Blackbird who was out with a group of ladies probably looking for seeds. Another Great Horned Owl (or maybe the the same one from recent posts) was tucked into the shade of the Cottonwood leaves getting ready to saw some logs – as soon as the idiot photographer wandered off. Featured today is a Great Blue Heron stalking the side-waters of the Arkansas River. The real action is saved for the bottom of the post. Both frames are of the same bird who surprised me with a successful strike on the river. S/He was flying over me – coming off the river – which put me off-guard. Suddenly it pinwheeled around and dove right into the water and came up with a great catch. The part that I missed was a second Osprey who swooped in and tried to steal the fish from bird number one. They both flew off – one pursuing the other – and I cannot report which one got breakfast.
Sightings:
Birds: Mallards, Canada Geese, Swallows, Starlings, Ospreys, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Flicker, Blue Grosbeak, Belted Kingfisher, Great Horned Owl, Great Blue Heron, Yellow Warblers
Critters: Cabbage White Butterflies, Mule Deer, Prairie Dogs, Tree Squirrels, Grasshoppers, Mosquitoes, Red Ants, Rock Squirrel, yellow butterfly, Whiptail Lizard
Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Lumix 100-300mm
