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Tag Archives: harrier

Marsh Hawks

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.

Birds, Bees and Big Ears

Despite the heat and the valley full of smoke, animals are abundant. There is a mule deer with twin fawns that we see around our hill pretty often. All the young birds have fledged and are learning to forage with help from their parents. Ken’s bees are still out collecting pollen and nectar from our garden flowers. I do wonder how the smoke affects these animals and if they have shortened life spans because of it.

Big-eared mule deer
The honeybees beard up on the outside of the hive during the hot afternoons
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
With the strange light from the smoke-filtered sunlight, I can’t decide if this is a Western Kingbird or a Say’s Phoebe although I lean towards the kingbird.
Female Northern Harrier