On the way home, we spied a Bald Eagle eating a hatchery raised Steelhead on the bank of the Methow River. We wondered how the bird got it. Was it stolen from a fisherman who’d left a prize catch sitting in the snow? Was it a fish that had died after being caught and escaping from a line? The Bald Eagles around here are primarily scavengers, not killing their own food. However it was procured, this bird had a very good meal before flying off with the head.
The first day of Spring featured cloudy, breezy weather bringing in sleet, rain and snow. We got out for some birding with one of the highlights being Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans on Cameron Lake Road east of the lower Okaongan Valley. The birds flew right across the road, giving us excellent views and a good opportunity to hear them calling back and forth. We estimated there were 200 to 300 cranes and maybe 25 swans.
Some days the sun shines and the promise of spring is everywhere. Other days, like today, we wake up to snow and then rain, gray skies that do not help melt the heavy snow or dry up the mud. Wednesday was a day that featured the promise of spring with birds singing and outstanding views and water rushing down the road, creatiing rivulets and puddles and imitations of Lake Missoula flooding everything in its path.
Says Phoebe
This handsome bird showed up under our feeders with a big mob of Red-winged Blackbirds. The blackbirds seem to be bent on eating us out of house and home and we are seeing fewer of the other birds who have kept us company all winter. The Varied Thrush didn’t seem to take any guff off of them and shared his seeds with Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Flickers and the blackbirds. He stayed for several hours. I hope he returns tomorrow. I looks forward to his ethereal song in the forest.
I spent some time Sunday near the river hoping to get photos of the hot air balloons. Instead, I mostly watched birds as the balloons floated overhead and down the other side of the valley. To see images of the balloons from Saturday go to my Reflected Light blog
At home, this Hairy Woodpecker was oblivious to the balloons landing across the valley.
My Everyday Photos 