Tag: nature

A Kestrel Encounter

An American Kestrel at the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge

We all have our favorites, and this beauty is one of mine…

The website at All About Birds states, “North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. It’s one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male’s slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place.”

And most importantly, “Kestrels are declining in parts of their range; you can help them by putting up nest boxes.”

And this is my plea to you, to do just that if you’re able to do so…please add a nest box and help to save this amazing raptor!

Dragon Lady

Blue Dasher on Lily Pad

I planned a trip to this particular pond because in summer, it’s filled with lily pads, dragonflies, and cedar waxwings, one of my favorite birds.

The waxwings dart back and forth across the pond, snatch up dragonfly nymphs and transport them back to their nests to feed their chicks with such grace and speed that shooting photos quickly enough to capture them is quite a challenge, but one I absolutely love.

However, after spying this adult dragonfly perched on a lily pad, my lens was momentarily diverted to it and the light behind it, not the birds.

Although it’s rather challenging for me to tell the difference between male and female Blue Dashers, I’m guessing this one was a female, therefore the Dragon Lady title (and besides, it adds a little drama).

And because she was so beautifully perched on this lily pad, I watched her flit back and forth too, in search of mosquitoes, part of her daily diet.

What’s not to love about a gal who eliminates mosquitos!

Wildlife Wednesday at The Dungeness Landing County Park

WARNING! Bird photography can be addictive but also challenging.

My addiction started while peering out the window eyeballing hummingbirds on a feeder everyday. It then progressed to herons, then eagles…and from there, there was no stopping me.

The www.wildlife informer.com states, ‘The Washington Fish & Wildlife Office estimates that up to 80% of the eagles found in the state during the mid-winter months are migrants with the largest winter concentrations occur in the lower Columbia River, Skagit River, Nooksack River, and Banks Lake.’ But from my observation, Sequim has one the largest numbers in the state (I once photographed 30 of them at the Landing). ‘As for the total population of breeding pairs, the WFWO states there are about 900 current nest sites.’ I’ve personally located over 6 active ones in our area.

So with that said, the Landing is another spot on my typical 25 miles daily drive through Sequim and the surrounding area watching for birds. This particular day, I was blessed with the graces of a baldy transporting a fish to the treetops and was able to capture this image.

So if you too are up for a challenge…consider donning a pair of binoculars, or grabbing a camera. Just beware, you may not be able to escape the addiction!

By special request…

A neighbor on NextDoor asked if I’d post this image of a cow elk wearing a tracker, and I’m happy to oblige.

Trackers are used to stop traffic on Hwy. 101 and to allow the herd to safely cross. Note that one ear also has a tag. Otherwise, her tracker serves as an attractive conversation starter, if nothing else. I’ve googled for more info but wasn’t able to TRACK down the reason for the tag.

If any of you have witnessed a crossing, please comment!