A fast trip to the Hagerman

Norther Harrier

Crested Caracara

Crested Caracara

Crested Caracara

Flushed

Kestrel

Red Shouldered Hawk (Thanks Erich)

A short quick trip to th' Hagerman

As we drove up to the end of Egret Drive. Wife saw the splashdown so to speak of the Osprey. The Osprey was taking off from the waters surface as we grabbed the camera, stopped the car and stepped out for a better view. Bid O vectored around a swarm of gulls until there was only a couple still in the chase. The shots were a long way off. I cropped the pictures about 90%. There is only so much you can do with 200mm of glass.

The Osprey loaded with fish still maintains a safe distance to it's pursuers.

The Osprey flew into the trees to the West of the reserve for the snack.

Hair Do

In Crowd

Not just another sunset

The Beach Creature and the Heron

Neighborhood Watch

Second Saturday

 
                                                                       The Cat

We returned Saturday in hopes of finding the Bob cat that surprised us last week (last post). We were easing through some of the access roads for the pump jacks on the western side of the refuge when we found this cat. When we first spotted it, the cat blended with the back ground very well. He was setting pretty still till I rolled down the window. Then he started moving around.

We also stared up into the tree, thinking another cat would be there. I think the cat was just measuring the amount of energy required to git up the tree and the to git back down.

                                See the cat?

The Birds

I tried laying on the ground, I tried walking up to these birds, but they kept their distance

Refuge Woodlands

and

of course the Turtle

Another very necessary link in the food chain, Mr T appears without any worldly issues, kicked back and sunnin on a log

Short Holiday

Friday night the temperature dipped into the 60s. Wow, for some of us, that was a great start to the holiday weekend. I'm sure the wildlife was glad, too. Everything seemed to be on the move.

It must be time for a nap.

Least Terns I think.

Here is more terns from down south

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Three amigos...

We all gotta eat. A Turtle munching on a fish.


These three had been down to the lake for a drink.

This kitty surprised us. We had been shooting aperture priority in bright sunlight (f32) and when we drove into the heavy shadows, the Bobcat chose to appear on the road. There was a culvert that runs under the roadway to a pool of water. When I first saw the cat he was moving away from the water. I guess he was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. He ran back to the culvert and ran through to the other side of the road. Sorry , I only managed three rapid shots from the camera as he turned to run. This one was shot at 1/25sec and f32. I didn't even think about the aperture setting. Typically when shooting it stays at f8~f11. If given the opportunity I'll do better next time. It is proof that you need to go to the wildlife refuges and witness some life.

Yep, He was there too! Maybe a little out of my camera's range. No Maybe to it...

Three out of four said this was a good fishing spot.

90 degrees in the Sun

The Southerly breeze made photographing the butterflies and moths a bit tricky.


Hanging at the refuge


It is hard to believe that this was under water a few months ago

Tiger Swallowtail

A stroll (swim) in the park