Dam birds…that’s one way to look at our eagles of winter around here. Now you might find them just about anywhere…even in open fields with no water around…but the vast majority will be found on the bigger rivers. As it gets colder and freezes everything up they congregate even more on the Mississippi…just below the … Read more
I think the brown birds, the immature eagles, are my favorites. No doubt, they don’t have the high contrast…the dynamic and brilliant white heads and tails of the adults…but they do have a lot of variety in their plumage. Some are very dark, some are quite light, and others have a nice mottled mixture of … Read more
The first winter storm of the season came in the other day and it changed everything in the backyard. With blowing snow and temps in the single digits, the birds got to work with an urgency that wasn’t present a few days ago. They’ll feed most of the day and endure the cold nights. Backyard … Read more
Bald Eagles are common here, especially as the weather starts to cool off. This December has been unseasonably warm for the most part, which doesn’t add up to a lot of eagle sightings…but every now and then you find one that’s in a good spot and enjoying its view. And this makes it much easier … Read more
This fall has been pretty quiet on the Flicker front…I just haven’t seen much of them. But as winter has come along they are starting to come in more and more. They are still rooting around looking for insects and such (note the mud on the bill) but eventually, they’ll hit the suet just like … Read more
Trumpeter Swans, for the most part, will mate for life…and the pair will remain together year-round. They are beautiful, big birds that are one of the most graceful flyers I have ever seen. In this image, a pair of swans depart the marsh to feed in the surrounding fields. It’s common to see them leave … Read more