Got any bird pics?

[Jim F.]

I had no idea that could or would eat such large food sources.
They must have some serious digestive juices.

I watched a Heron feeding on young, dumb ground squirrels in the Big Hole valley years ago. I thought it was a rogue Heron at the time . Apparently that is not the case.

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

Those talons are telling.

 

[Wadin' Boot]

Still in town in Montana, you would think the Osprey would be heading south by now, maybe this next week does it....

 

[Buzzy]

Still in town in Montana, you would think the Osprey would be heading south by now, maybe this next week does it....

Admittedly my hearing is quite bad but yesterday I clearly heard sandhill cranes circling above town, then again today. I really love hearing (and watching) these birds as they migrate through the Basin.

 

[Scott Salzer]

Love the sound of the sandhills! I also get a kick out of them as they "tumble" out of the sky. Always look forward to seeing hearing them in the fall. We should be seeing them next week from north central WA.

 

[SilverFly]

Skunked for salmon on a SWW river. Consolation prize was a pair of posing pileated. Another 10 yards closer would have been great but I'll settle for some digital zoom..

 

[Scott Salzer]

Nice to see both the male & female. Gotta love those guys.

 

[SilverFly]

Saw this cloud of unidentified raptors in a thermal this AM. Going south on I-205 in the 'Couv (wife driving). Look more like hawks than turkey vultures, but didn't think buteo raptors gathered like that. Sorry for the crappy windshield/sunroof shots.

 

[Wadin' Boot]

 

[RCF]

^^^ great pic. It is that time of year. Lots of flocks of small birds moving through too. Trees are loaded with them...

 

[Buzzy]

^^^ great pic. It is that time of year. Lots of flocks of small birds moving through too. Trees are loaded with them...

The sandhill cranes are migrating, I love to hear them; often it's hard to spot them. Driving back from CNWR a few days ago, one of the bean fields had just been harvested - there were countless blackbirds in the field. So cool to see them.

 

[Scott Salzer]

We had a large flock do a fly by on an eastern WA lake. Then a saw lone juvenile on an orchard road. Poor guy. Since they are so social.

 

[Buzzy]

Sure fun watching brown pelicans dive into the bay, surface then tip their head back and gulp.

Any tuna boats get out across the bay?

 

[Gary Knowels]

I watched this fellow swoop down and snatch a squirrel out of the middle of the road one half block away as I was walking the dog this evening. I wish they'd be more active, the large squirrel population is rather annoying.

 

[Parabola]

 

[Scott Salzer]

Gary:

Nice barred owl.

Yeah, we are bothered by to many of the bushy tailed rats.....

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

These guys often sit tucked away in the cedars or cottonwoods along the river during the day, but come late in the evening they often sweep low across the fields in the valley looking for an easy meal.

 

[Parabola]

 

[Parabola]

 

[Gary Knowels]

View attachment 85044

Ah the runner up to America's national bird, lovely