From my recent camping trip in the Okanogan Highlands. Merlin, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagle. The eagle was hoping to catch a young loon or duck. The Merlin is a youngster, constantly screaming for help from its parent. I think the Red-tailed Hawks were a family group.
Ducks and coots, mostly youngsters.
The Spotted Sandpiper is a cute little shorebird often observed along rivers and lakes. I saw this one recently along the edge of a lake and photographed it from my kayak. There may have been more than one. I only saw one at a time over the course of three days. They are always bopping their tail up and down and they peep when they fly. It’s a distinctive peep in their habitat making them easy to find.
Last week, when I was in the Okanogan Highlands, I had a chance to watch and photograph Northern Harriers. Their previous name is Marsh Hawk and I don’t know why it was changed. Marsh Hawk is a fitting description as they are often seen flying over marshes and open fields, hunting for prey. They are a beautiful hawk with an owl-like face. These birds are probably juveniles and maybe an adult female. The adult males are gray with similar markings and sometimes referred to as the grey ghost.
Due to light pollution, it’s hard to find a place where a person can see the Milky Way. According to Dark Sky International, “light pollution is the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe.”
I am lucky. I don’t have to travel far to see the Milky Way. Here are a few images from the past week.
My Everyday Photos 