Backyard Wildlife

My closest look this Winter of the Golden eagle lasted a tad over 30 minutes while it was perched on one of our power poles. I stayed a good distance away so I could absorb the experience and not bother the bird. Watched it preen and stretch, and finally rest up. It eventually bobbed its head excitedly, then flew off to dive on something in the grass a few hundred yards away where I never saw it rise. Must have been dining.

When it was preening it flared its very long tail out to the side. It was very easy to see the beautiful feathers used for the war bonnets of the native tribes of the plains.

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A recent photo of a young Peregrine watching me from above.

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My closest look this Winter of the Golden eagle lasted a tad over 30 minutes while it was perched on one of our power poles. I stayed a good distance away so I could absorb the experience and not bother the bird. Watched it preen and stretch, and finally rest up. It eventually bobbed its head excitedly, then flew off to dive on something in the grass a few hundred yards away where I never saw it rise. Must have been dining.

When it was preening it flared its very long tail out to the side. It was very easy to see the beautiful feathers used for the war bonnets of the native tribes of the plains.

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A recent photo of a young Peregrine watching me from above.

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That's a beautiful juxtaposition of those pictures. Very cool
 
That Golden Eagle is beautiful! You're lucky to be able to see it and I can tell that you appreciate that as well. Thanks for sharing and for the bit of Native American info.
Indeed, a sensational bird that I always had a feeling of shock when I saw it.

Poor Bald eagles seemingly tried to photobomb every shot I took, but the Golden was always able to take my breath away. Powerful, wild presence !

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The photo of the Bald Eagle with the moon in the background is pretty amazing! Awesome shot!
 
Might as well be my back yard lately. Another asshat otter. Had the rhythm figured, and each time the bite began it came over the bank and put everything down.
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Lots of frogs eggs. Tuck that bit away.
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No pictures to share, but it was an encounter that could have ended much differently,
Couple of nights ago I opened the patio door to let our 12 lb lap warmer out to empty herself before bedtime and I grabbed a flashlight and bag and followed her. She was about 10 ft from the back fence when I stepped off the covered patio I see the flared wings of a Great Horned Owl changing directions.
Wing span was every bit of 4 ft. It was about 5 ft above the fence when it must have seen me and
changed it’s mind. I now scan the tree line with the flashlight and then let the dog out.
We used to see and hear the owls at night in the woods out back but the last couple of years it seemed
that they were displaced by nesting Coopers Hawks. Field mice are not a problem.
 
Not the best angle, and the image is crappy (for some reason the actual image won't load, but a screenshot that's even bigger mB will), so I need some help with the ID, I'm guessing a Northern Flicker (female).

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cheers
 
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