[Eagle, Martial]

Eagle, Martial

Dale,  Here is another juvenile martial eagle.  When mature, the white underparts will have back spots.

A screen shot from safari.tv in South Africa

Gayle

[Eagle]

Eagle

Each year, hundreds of bald eagles winter in the Klamath Basin on the interior border between California and Oregon.  The eagles are there to feed on the thousands of tundra swans and other waterfowl that also over-winter there.  The Klamath River is a river under siege for water rights.  Native Americans are protecting their rights to fish for salmon.  Agriculture is thirsty for water for crops.   Wildlife needs the annual flooding of the vast wetlands.

The eagles roost collectively in huge trees.  Morning fly-out is spectacular.

The fourth picture shows an eagle flying over a large flock of tundra swans looking for its next meal.

Gayle

Note:  You will have to click on the first three images to see them.

[Eider]

Eider

I suppose my fascination with eiders also sprang from knowing about down comforters.  I remember my sheer joy at spotting eiders from a car ferry in the North Sea!

The down is harvested for commercial purposes in several northern countries.  The eiders pull out their own down to line their nests and the down is gathered when the ducklings leave the nests.

In Iceland, hay is substituted for the down at the time eggs are laid.  It is said that eiders prefer to nest near humans to provide protection from the main predator, the Arctic fox.

The King Eider is reported to migrate in huge flocks numbering in the thousands.

Gayle

[Eagle Owl]

Eagle Owl

The Giant Eagle Owl, or Verroux's Owl is the largest owl in Africa.  It may stand 30 inches tall and have a wing span of six feet.  It has pink eyelids!  We had a good, long look at one on WildEarth' evening safari:  http://www.wildearth.tv/safari-tv

These are screen captures from there.

Gayle

National Geographic airing began the series of seven episodes on Sunday.  It is narrated by Alec Baldwin and the photography is up to NGEO's high standards.  The episodes were "Need to Move" and "Need to breed."  There was something for every body, wildebeests, ants penguins, elephant seals, sperm whales...  All in all, it was quite glorious.

I do not see that they will be repeated this week.  Next episodes Will air next Sunday,

Gayle

[Crested Caracara]

Crested Caracara

On the National Geographic' "Migration" episode tonight, a Striated Caracara, one of the rarest raptors in the world was featured.  Also known as Johnny Rook, it is found in the Falkland Islands.  It was shown preying on the eggs and chicks of the rockhopper penguin

Gayle

[Dowitcher]

Dowitcher

Mostly, I love the name!  It has a vaguely sinister ring to it!  Can be noticed by sewing macine approach to eating!  The long-billed dowitcher has a wide range and can by found near fresh water.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Dowitcher/id

The short-billed breeds in the far north and winters on southern coasts.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-billed_Dowitcher/lifehistory

The short-billed has an engaging song.

http://macaulaylibrary.org/search.do

Gayle

[Dark-eyed Junco]

Dark-eyed Junco

Here is a Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon race from my feeder.

Gayle

[Cormorant Fishing]

Cormorant Fishing

Some cultures, principally Japanese and Chinese used cormorants to catch fish for humans.  Read about here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormorant_fishing

Gayle

[Coots Redux]

Coots Redux

I found some coot photographs last night.  They were made at the Sacramento Wild Life Refuge in the Central Valley of California.

Gayle

[C]

C is also for Common Tern

This brings back happy memories.  While hiking on the beach with several friends, when a common tern was spotted,  someone would say  "Look, there is a comintern!"  A long ad libbed shaggy dog story would ensue.  Comintern was an organization started by Lenin, Communist International.  We maaged to turn terns into polital creatures with ulterior motives!

Gayle

[Coot, American]

Coot, American

How many times have you seen a bunch of black birds on the surface of a pond at a distance and think,"Aha, interesting ducks?"  And you get closer and discover they are ordinary old coots!  (Not to be confused with eccentric old men.)  Coots are ubiquitous. I even found them in the Orkneys. They are duck-like, but are not ducks.  They are actually swimmung rails.  About the only interesting thing about them is they have lobed toes and partially webbed feet.

(As an aside, I had a childhood friend whose nickname was Coot.  I thought it was a disparaging handle given him by cruel boys.  After his death, his sister said he gave himself the name.  How weird is that?)

Gayle

[Crested Caracara]

Crested Caracara

The Crested Caracara is a fierce looking member of the falcon family.  It looks like it would take on anyrhing, but, in fact, it is principally a carrion eater and it is often seen in the company of vultures.  Its range is South and Central America and extends to the U.S. and Florida.  I have seen it several times in Baja.  It prefers open lowlands or savannas.  Its nest consists of a collection of sticks.  In that area of  Baja, platforms are constructed atop power poles, similar to those for osprey, for their nests.

You can listen to the calls and see videos from the Macaulay Library here:  http://macaulaylibrary.org/search.do

Photographs by Peregrine Fund.

Gayle

Reminder:  The National Geographic's seven part series on migration begins this Sunday at 8 PM.

Gayle

[Cranes, Sandhill]

Cranes, Sandhill

While I have many images of cranes, they are pre-digital and I am not up to all that scanning, so here is a lovely photograph I received from the International Crane Foundation.

Gayle