Another Roadrunner!

This silly bird was on TOP of Enchanted Rock.

Roadrunner

Roadrunner in Heritage Garden area of Albuquerque Bontanical Gardens.

Juvenile Bald Eagle

This young eagle on a dead limb in the very top of an oak tree was watching the boat launch from Eagle Point Day Use when I arrived back to my car and was still there an hour later when I finally headed for the barn.

According to my Sibley Guide to Birds,  she is a first year.

Kinda like other young animals, her beak and claws seem outsized!

(Note:  According to Democrat, there are many more eagles than normal at Melones this year.  Mainly concentrated at the Camp 9 bridge where salmon are spawning.)

Added this great sketch Super Nephew G did from my pic this morning!  Thanks for sharing G!

Red Tail Hawk

Hiking at Melones; mid-afternoon.

Afternoon Raptor Free Flight

Before the afternoon show we spent some time in the Hummingbird House.  Activity was low due to hot weather.

The afternoon Free Flight program was every bit as outstanding as the morning show;  if you get a chance I whole heartily recommend attending BOTH!

GRAY HAWK

(duplicate shots are all the same bird)

GRAY HAWK

GRAY HAWK

GRAY HAWK

BARN OWL

BARN OWL

BARN OWL

HARRIS HAWKS hunt in family groups;  today we had a family of three!   

HARRIS HAWK

HARRIS HAWKS

HARRIS HAWK

HARRIS HAWK

Morning Raptor Free Flight

There are two Raptor Free Flight shows each day at the Tucson Desert Museum.  Friend Beth and I planned to see both because each has a unique set of birds.  I won't say much about the birds;  they speak for themselves!

But first a couple wild birds in the desert......

PHAINOPEPLA

CACTUS WREN

Now for the raptors!

RAVEN

GREAT HORNED OWL

GREAT HORNED OWL

GREAT HORNED OWL

(duplicate shots are of the same bird)

PRAIRIE FALCON

PRAIRIE FALCON

FERRUGINOUS HAWK

FERRUGINOUS HAWK

FERRUGINOUS HAWK

Handlers waiting for the RED TRAIL HAWK to return.

 RED TAIL at end of LONG dive!

Red Tail at Crater Lake

This juvenile (?) Red Tailed Hawk (?)  met me on Garfield Point and followed me back down the trail to the Lodge.  I wasn't sure this was a Red Tail as the colors were more grayish than brownish red, but seems likely now that she was a juvenile.  More information is always welcome in comments!

I got a good look at the underneath of her wings while she was in flight over the lake.  So challenging to get this kind of shot!

She landed in a tree along the path just past the Lodge....

Hopping from branch to branch for several minutes......

Until a couple walking down the trail caught her attention and she lifted off to fly back up to the trail to Garfield Point......

My attention was also diverted and so I missed the last shot of her soaring away!