Archive for December, 2009

Harris’s Sparrow

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

This little fellow is the largest sparrow in Kansas. We saw them around a lot last winter, but don’t see them much in warmer times. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

At the spillway

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

The lake is frozen, so everyone is hanging out below the dam. Zoom in on the trees and count the bald eagles. I saw at least twenty in the short time I was out there this morning. Very cool. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

And now for something completely different

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

I was taking pictures of birds at our feeders when this beautiful fox came running down the street. Sadly, this was the best of the pictures. It was so cloudy. I was glad to see her/him since it has been over a year since the last time we saw a fox in the neighborhood. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

Baby, it’s cold outside

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

The Christmas blizzard generated nonstop action at our feeders. I keep saying, “Let’s invite everyone in.” I think our felines might have something to say about that. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

Bald eagle

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

I can watch them all day. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

Bewick’s wren

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

I might be wrong about the identification, but he certainly is beautiful. Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

Muskrat love

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

What a lovely moment to just hang back and watch her/him eat. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

Nest Check

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

It looks like all the local bald eagle nests we visit are good to go. The eagles are back and doing house keeping. Click on picture to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

Young eagles

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Young eagles are everywhere right now.  I got this  picture when watching this youngin’ trying to steal fish from one of the adults. Click on picture to enlarge. © Chris Taylor

Raptors Return

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

While I haven’t spent too much time out in the bitter cold lately, I was able to get out for a while over the weekend and look for new winter arrivals. Hawks are in abundance and there seem to be some new bald eagle arrivals.  I’m also seeing a lot more activity among the bald eagles who nest here, courting and tidying up nests. Of course what we call courtship may mean something completely different to them. Pretty much everything I’ve read about bald eagles (and many other nonhuman animals) comes from a very speciesist perspective and often runs counter to what I have observed just hanging out near them.  They have their own reasons for what they do. :) Click on pictures to enlarge.

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor

© Chris Taylor