Northern Harrier at Camas National Wildlife Refuge

This afternoon I drove out to Camas National Wildlife Refuge to get some pictures and materials for a newspaper article.  It was exciting, but with low clouds and patchy fog, the pictures were not as sharp as they should be.  I saw porcupines, white-tailed deer, hawks, blackbirds, and many waterfowl. 
Here a flock of Trumpeter swan take off from one of the ponds.

But the most exciting was calling in the Northern Harriers.  There were 14 of them working the marshes so I hid in the bull rushes and started calling with a preditor call.  Several harriers looked for the squeeking mouse and this one actually tried attacking me.

Here she comes in hell bent for election.

She finally pulls up because she cannot see the rodent.

She continues to look as I continue to snap pictures of her as she glances at me.

                                             

She keeps circling as she looks for the rodent as I continue to call and shoot pictures.

Just another wild day in Idaho.

SkyWatch Friday - Early morning Fog

After a snow/rain storm most of the night, the sun tried burning off the thick fog as it rose over the Teton River west of Rexburg.

See more beautiful pictures of the sky on SkyWatch Friday.

Black capped Chickadees

Yesterday after church I heard the familiar call of Black-capped chickadees calling in my back yard bushes.  I immediately prepared the sunflower and niger seed feeders and here they came.  I will enjoy the chickadees, goldfinch, house finch and pine siskin all winter long.  The cold days will be bright by the colorful birds in my back yard.

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch in its winter plumage.

House finch

Pine siskin flying into the niger seed sack.

With snow predicted tonight, I will make sure the feeders are full for tomorrow.  I want the birds to stay to keep my days bright with their colors and battles.  These are not the only ones that will visit my back yard, but they will be here every day.

Snow geese migration

Last night as I went outside to get a load of firewood for the stove, thousands of snow geese were flying south.  It was dark so I could not see them, but there were thousands as they were continous for over 10 minutes.  The fall migration does not stop in our area, but the spring migration does it is a sight to behold.  Here are some pictures of last spring's migration.

Here a flock is landing at Camas National Wildlife Refuge during a brilliant sunset.

Here are the three main types that migrate through.  Left is a Ross's Goose, middle is a Blue phase Snow Goose and the right one is a Snow Goose.

Just more wildness in Idaho.