Sixty degrees, my car temperature gauge read. I couldn’t resist heading to farm country to see what changes had come with the warmer weather.
Right away I noticed the farmland ponds were thawing, some more than others.
I watched this pair of mallards swimming in one. Notice the male navigating an ice floe that remained.
Above the pond on a tree limb, I saw this Rough-legged Hawk, still here from its winter migration.
Then I saw these three cranes feasting on corn dregs in a field near where I usually see them. Was this my crane family from last season with the young crane all grown?
I spied another hawk, this one a Red-shouldered. Like the cranes, it was a “snowbird” returning from its winter in the South.
But the catch of the day was this beautiful American Kestrel, a dainty falcon that I’d not seen before. I felt so lucky! The black facial stripes below its eyes was the identification giveaway.
The reddish-brown tail feathers reminded me of a Red-Tailed Hawk, but in the Kestrel, the solid color tail feathers and slate-blue wings indicated this bird was a male.
The Kestrel took flight and I got a good look its undersides. I’ll surely know this falcon the next time I see one.
Marvelous series of shots, Karen. I am glad to know you saw a Kestrel! The only one I've ever photographed was in New Mexico. Happy Easter to you and Gracie!
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty exciting. I didn’t know what it was till I got home.
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