Environment:
Start Time: 6:10 AM Temperature: 61 degrees Sky: Sun and significant haze.
Despite the poor quality air and light I ventured out this morning to see what was going on in Rock Canyon. Turns out there was quite a bit. On the way in I spotted a Coyote but was unable to get a photo of it because it also spotted me. I was also delighted to come across Mother Red-tail Hawk (my assumption) out with her now fledged youngster giving Hawk Lessons (again, my assumption). The little one was being pretty coy but mom was sitting out for all the world to see. I really can’t say why the local Western Kingbirds weren’t pelting her. The Ospreys down by the river were not too active except for one of the young ones. This one was really getting in to refining its flying skills and was zooming all over the place. The featured image is what happened when it made a fast low pass over one of its parents who was forced to duck. I also saw three Mule Deer Fawns out with their moms – one posted at the bottom of this post.
Sightings:
Birds: Double Crested Cormorants, Canada Geese, Doves, Western Kingbirds, Ospreys, Northern Flickers, Starlings, Red-tailed Hawks, Blue Grosbeak, Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl, Barn Swallows
Critters: Mule Deer, Grasshoppers, Cottontail Rabbit, Coyote
Gear: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II, Lumix 100-300mm; Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight
