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
Harris’s Sparrow
Monthly Archives: December 2009
At the spillway
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
And now for something completely different
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
Baby, it’s cold outside
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
Bald eagle
Bewick’s wren
I might be wrong about the identification, but he certainly is beautiful. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
Muskrat love
Nest Check
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.
Young eagles
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. 
Raptors Return
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