Salt water the Fall Migration

Peregrine Falcon

Here are a number of shots taken of a pair of mating birds.  I didn't see the female until she went for a dip in the cold winter water.  After about ten minutes she flew to a perch and I was able to get some nice shots of her grooming post bathing.  It was the first really warm day  in late February and she took full advantage of the opportunity

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Deer

Playing catch up with posting pics.  So there will be a number of posts with brief descriptions. 
Found these guys last month chilling or more accurately

warming in the sun. 

The Drought is Over

Swinging flies for lake run fish is rarely a numbers game.  That being said over the years, I've had more successful days than not.  This pattern held true until the fall of 2015.  I think I've fished 7 or 8 days since then with a couple of tugs but no hookups.  It all started in the summer of 2015 when I visited my sister and brother in law in Oregon.  I met up with a virtual online friend and fished for steelhead in mid August for one day.  Neither one of us had even a tug. I recall saying to  my friend that I almost always get a fish back home.  Well from that point onward its been scarce, so much for bragging.  I hadn't changed what I'd been doing and I know I wasn't alone.  The drop in returns of Lake Ontario fish to tributaries, has been well documented.

So the other day my friend Matt and I head to the river and hope for the best.  We fished hard and had a great time.  The few other anglers we talked to said it was slow also.  We only got one fish but it was the largest brown I've swung up on the Salmon.

 

Surveying the river, eager to get going

Two hands needed to get a good grip

 Oh yeah!

Deep sides on this fish

The tub fly free from the hook

Freeze dried fish

 

 

Owl's

I got the witness the powerful evening flight of some short eared owls the other evening.  The 10 or so owls flew in singles, in acrobatic duo's and one chased a norther harrier.  Tough light to capture all  that but I did manage a few, here are the one's that I like. 

Let there be sun

This winter has been cloudy at least that's my perception.  Today has been a gloriously warm and sun filled day. I never regret getting up early to go outside and today was no exception.  

 Snow Bunting

 American Tree Sparrow

 Ringed Neck Pheasant

 Nap time for two Short Eared Owls

Male Golden Eye

Recent Pix

Been busy but here are a few pictures that I captured this past weekend. 
 
 Saw a number of Pileated Woodpeckers working this tree.  The tree must be full of insects.

 Closest I've been to an eagle in the lower 48. 

 A little overexposed but I love the details on the feathers of this crow.

Updated Photo Dump

More recent shots.  I've been slowly getting used to my new lens and what it can do as well as not do. 

 Blue bird

 Snow on Cat o nine tail

Female Kestrel

Barred Owl playing hide n seek, but fortunately for me, not very well. 

Photo Dump

 Been busy of late so here are a number of pictures from the last few weeks that I just haven't had time to put up.

 

 Blue Bird

 Horned Lark using any wind break it can find

Female Northern Harrier

 Golden Finch

 Bambi's mom

 Female Common Golden Eye

 On the prowl

Waiting for something

Short Eared Owl

New Glass Update

So I think I have my focus issues resolved.  Got these today while out in the car for a little drive. 

Male Common Golden Eye,  stunning subtle coloration in the head, hard to capture.

 Female Red Breasted Merganser

 Male Northern Harrier or Marsh Hawk.  Hunting low over the meadow in search of prey.