Pre-publication update, Dec. 4, 2020: When I was writing this diary I was not certain of the Northern Harrier identification. Now I’m confident, having put out my photos on a couple of other diaries in the past two days. I’ve edited my earlier writing slightly to reflect this.
The darn cold weather has been keeping me less motivated to get up and go for my bicycle rides and nature viewing. I gotta though, because you never know what you might see.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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DECEMBER 2, 2020
Yesterday, the first day of December 2020, I shook off my reluctance to get out in the twenty-something-degrees frosty morning air, layered up with long underwear and double long-sleeve shirts under my fuzzy felt jacket, ear warmer head band under the ball cap, heavy socks and cozy gloves. Put my little folding field chair in the backpack for good measure (and to convince myself I was going to make a full morning of it).
I scarcely need have worried. Once I was out there it wasn’t at all uncomfortable. The morning sun was well in the sky by 9:00 a.m. and there wasn’t even the hint of a breeze.
There was to be a certain drama ahead, an unexpected opportunity for me to capture a “messier” part of nature’s way, but the gentler views came first.
The drama, and the question, begins. Trigger warning: some messy “red stuff” will show, but it’s very mild. This is the way of the natural world after all.
The question: is this a Northern Harrier? When I was first writing up this diary I was thinking it was a Red-tailed Hawk until I saw giddy thing’s photo in Angmar’s Daily Bucket Dec. 02. First, the photo by giddy thing:
Now mine:
Same as above, cropped:
I zoomed in with the camera:
If this is a Northern Harrier, that’s another “first” for me. Your thinkings on this please, Bucketeers.
Now that I’m confident it is a Northern Harrier, this is my third raptor species observed for the year.
I was about half-way out on the walk when I took the preceding photos. Leaving the hawk to finish in peace (I wasn’t actually disturbing it; it was about 150 yards away from where I was standing) I continued out to the end, set up my field chair, and… nothing more to photograph for the day. I spent about a half-hour sitting and watching all around with my binoculars, seeing additional hawks and Egrets flying about, along with some Canada Geese and a Northern (Red-shafted) Flicker that I saw on my way back. Camera always ready. You never know what you might see.
Now It's Your Turn
What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
Thank you.
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