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Flint Hills of Kansas.
Spring migration has only just begun here in the Flint Hills. There are yet very few trees that even have ideas about sprouting leaves. But that’s all good as it makes the raptors more visible. I am very excited that there are still Harriers here. I’m hoping they decide to nest in this area. This year is the first I’ve seen them here this late into spring. Here are a few of my latest Harrier shots. They all hold up to a certain amount of ZOOM pretty well.
4/10/22 Norther Harrier ZOOM
Northern Harrier. 4/10/22 ZOOM
Norther Harrier. 4/10/22. ZOOM
Northern Harrier. 4/10/22 ZOOM
Once the leaves pop I’ll have a much more difficult time seeing into the Red Tail nests I am monitoring.
Red Tail mama on RT nest #1. 4/15/22. By the time you read this I expect to be trying to photograph baby Red Tails!
At the time of this writing the burn season is still underway, but nearing it’s end. Yesterday I saw 18 hawks, nearly all Swainsons, floating over a single burning field. They will soon be moving on to areas farther north.
While migrating species have been few to this point, I have seen a couple of friends from last year returning to my area. That warms my heart.
So happy to see my first Scissor Tail of the new season. ZOOM
This Loggerhead Shrike was first sight of a migrator for this year, on March 15. ZOOM
But in what might turn out to be my biggest thrill of this year was the appearance this past weekend right here on the ranch of an OSPREY! I had never seen an Osprey since I’ve been in Kansas, so I am elated to a high level over it.
Osprey at Appy Trails! ZOOM
I was getting ready to open the gate to go out on my birding run Sunday when I saw an unusual bird sitting on the power pole up at the upper barn. Instead of opening the gate I dove back into the little truck to grab my camera!!!! Sure glad I did, because the Osprey lifted off and flew right at me! That would be a terrible time for a fight with your camera, huh? By the time I finally got everything ready it was right over my head.
It was such a thrill to see this bird, and even better to see it toting a prize!
As soon as it got an up close look at me it turned around and headed back toward the upper barn.
So long as I could get him in my viewfinder I kept clicking. 4/16/22.
Once back to the upper barn it turned around and came right back to me again!
This might be my best shot of the Osprey with it’s dinner. It circled back and forth three times before deciding it had seen enough and needed to find a private place to eat what looks like a very nice perch. ZOOM
Osprey had seen enough of me and headed over to a spot in the south pasture to do it’s feasting. 4/16/22
I went on about my business and made my circle route from Wagon Trail West. I ran into some Swainsons hawks again.
This Swainsons Hawk is the only one that came in up close and personal on this day. It played a winning hand in the light game so this was as good as I could get.
I grabbed this ID Harrier pic for sighting date stamp as I was about to head home. 4/16/22
I was within a mile from home when I notice a duck I thought looked a little different swimming with a pair of Canadians in my neighbor’s small farm pond beside the road.
Northern Shoveler swimming with Canadian Geese. 4/16/22
When I got home over three hours after leaving, there was the Osprey perched on an old power pole just south of my upper gate. That is the perched photo that began this series above. After I came back through the gate I stopped to get whatever pics I could before he took off again. I didn’t have long to wait. Don’t neglect to examine the SERIOUS daggers on the end of this guy’s toes, and the amazing leggings he sports.
Osprey lifts off from it’s perch. ZOOM
The next photo I took is what you see as the lead photo for this diary, and here is the last glimpse I got of this magnificent bird on that day.
Until we meet again, my friend! 4/16/22. ZOOM
I’m hoping this isn’t the last I see of this beautiful bird, but I haven’t seen it again yet. So it is at least the end of today’s story! Now, back out into the fields to find another story for another day. After all, Spring Migration is just getting started.
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