Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Moonset and Sunrise

Moon over Birdhouse_3446.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I didn't get out to the TCCAP Wildlife Viewing Area today, maybe tomorrow.

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Rough-legged Hawk, again

Rough-legged Hawk_42230.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I got a close look at one of the dark morph rough-legged hawks today.

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Deer

Deer_41646.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I saw maybe four different groups of 3-5 deer today near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I surprised this one in the pine trees.

In my quest to find owls, I actually got out of the truck and strapped on the snow shoes. Five steps into the pines and one flew off. Didn't get a shot.

Saw two different dark-morph rough-legged hawks and two others, either light-morph and/or normal.

Did not see a single turkey, which was weird. Their tracks are everywhere.

Nine swans again in the pond....and a jillion mallards.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Blue Sunrise

Blue Sunrise_3332.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Not really. I had the white balance set to something else, not sure which, so it brought out all the blues. I liked the colors so I kept the shots.

Here's closer to what it really looked like:

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Turkeys Roosting

Turkey Roosting_41027.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Roosting, not roasting. I made a drive through near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area this morning before I met the family for lunch. I saw two separate groups of turkeys still in their night roosting trees.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Tree Sparrows

Tree Sparrow_40496.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Lately, I've been seeing a flock of about 40 or 50 American tree sparrows near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I find it fun to watch how the grass bends when they land on it. They are also a bit feisty sometimes.

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Reddish Squirrel

Ginger Squirrel_40773.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

There aren't many squirrels near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area because of all the hawks, owls and eagles. That makes this siting a bit more interesting. I dug around the internet and can't positively determine if this is a reddish colored eastern gray squirrel or a fox squirrel. Odds are probably eastern gray but who knows?

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Rough-legged Hawks

Rough-legged Hawk_40631.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

We saw at least three different individual rough-tailed hawks today near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Here are a couple shots. The one on the right was screeching at us. Same bird below.



Different bird:


A very dark morph rough-legged hawk:

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw A Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl_49957.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Actually, I saw three great horned owls today during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. It was in the mid 30s F with pouring rain all day.

I took the small 70-300mm lens in lieu of the big glass so I'd be more mobile. All my photos are cropped very much and I only posted them for ID purposes.

Saw my first rough-legged hawk. There was much debate before we decided what it was. Once I got the photos on the computer, it's obvious.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Hawks

Red-tailed Hawk_49524.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I saw 6-7 red-tailed hawks the other day near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I didn't get out there today since we received about a foot of snow.

This hawk must have been preoccupied with prey because I drove right up close and got to shoot a lot of photos.

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Shrike Attack

Shrike_49408.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Within a few minutes of entering the area, I came across this northern shrike. I snapped a few photos from a distance then drove up closer. This image is a cropped a bit. I wondered why the bird didn't fly off as I approached but I soon found out. It had a bead on shrew.  (I also saw a giant murder of crows, perhaps 300 or so and I saw a great horned owl and two kestrels.)

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Trapped Leaf

Trapped_49115.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

One thing that sucks about winter is the shorter days. I'm off to work when the sun is just coming up and don't get home until after the sun sets.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw A Foggy Road

Foggy Road_49121_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It was foggy all day long today at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I headed out there about 10am for some landscape shots. The photo on the left is the perimeter road that runs around the edge of the whole AHATS.

I saw a flock of about twenty American tree sparrows working the grass on the other side of the barbed wire. I also saw a deer hunter drive by on the perimeter road with a big giant rack in the back. I wonder if it was this guy. I kinda hope not.