The Short-eared Owls have enjoyed some great hunting weather over the last couple of weeks, and it's been a joy to observe and capture them. They are great flyers, fierce defenders of their territory and excellent hunters; poor voles don't stand a chance.

Did not have many male ruby-throateds visit this year, but was able to capture one during his brief visit. As those who photograph these little beauties know, the right angle determines . . .

Short-eared owl on the evening hunt.

"Does the morning light make my bill look big?" asks this female Northern Shoveler while her flockmates dive for goodies in the pond.

A female Whooping Crane (aka #14-15) takes off in the early morning after roosting overnight with her migrating companions, a flock of sandhill cranes. With the sun below the horizon and the skies beginning to brighten with yellows and oranges, different groups of cranes would begin to chatter and then take off . . .

Red-winged blackbirds and their unique song have always reminded me of summer. On this gray, cold, rainy day it's nice to remember summer. The last image of this group is of a flock of blackbirds from a couple of weeks ago, around a couple of hundred, that were quickly flying south for warmer climates.

This Great Blue Heron was pretty proud of his catch a couple of months ago as it was snagged in the middle of the pond and then walked all of the way back to the shoreline where it gave it a couple of thumps with its bill before enjoying the tasty treat.

Can you find a whooping crane hanging out with some Sandhills in this shallow pond? There are now 826 whooping cranes in North America as of Feb 2020, up from a low of 16 birds in 1941 (US Fish and Wildlife) . . .

Was graced with a quick fly-by of a short-eared owl last week, thanks Shorty!

Found some trumpeter swans taking a break from their migration recently, and caught one showing off its wingspan. I'm always struck by just how white and beautiful their feathers are, what a treasure they are.