Hawks, hawks, and more hawks! I got to McAlister a little after 11 and it
was a beautiful morning (for awhile, anyway)! I started at Bob Mills and
worked my way around. Not long after I entered the park, a Northern Harrier
flew over and began to gain elevation. When I got around to the playground
side, there was (another?) Northern Harrier harassing a Rough-legged Hawk.
The Rough-legged Hawk put up with it for a few seconds and then looked like
it was going to head off. It didn't take long to turn back, though, and
soared back and forth over the park several times, giving me great looks.
While I was watching it, I noticed 3 hawks soaring high up. They turned out
to be two Red-tailed Hawks and a light morph Ferruginous! As if it couldn't
get any better, earlier, I had noticed a hawk sitting among the Prairie
Dogs. It gave the impression of a Peregrine (don't ask me why) but with all
the heat shimmer, I couldn't make any details out. I figured it was going
to be the Harrier that I had lost track of and it was still there, so I
decided to drive around to the other side and start walking. The wind had
already been picking up, but now I saw the dust in the distance. I decided
to keep going (not smart with a scope on my shoulder and the strong head
wind) and just as I was thinking "I'm not going to find it, its going to
see me first and be gone before I even see it" there it was. I got the
scope on it and it turned out to be a Prairie Falcon! Likely Lena's
excellent find from yesterday. A few pics through an increasingly unsteady
scope and it was time to make a run for the car! (which I had foolishly
left a good ways behind me) Even the skateboarders had been smart enough to
make a run for it at least 10 min earlier. I got back just before the dust
hit, whew! It was totally worth it :) Here's to clearer skies (and sinuses)
tomorrow!
Jennifer
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Jennifer Miller
Lubbock, TX
{o,o}
/)_)
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Blog - http://foundnature.weebly.com/index.html
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