Raptors

I have recently become obsessed with birds - all birds, but Raptors in particular! It all started one day last February when my friend Bonnie and I went for a bike ride and saw a juvenile bald eagle flying over our heads. Then we saw a tree full of robins and a bunch of great blue herons and then the young bald eagle sitting in a tree with the adult!

Since then we have had many such adventures, here are a couple of photos...

This is a Great Blue Heron. I would not even try to guess how many hours I've spent trying to get a good shot of one of these! They are very shy birds and, in my experience, as soon as you stop and try to get a look, they fly away. I got this picture on a very hot and muggy day. I went for a bike ride to Springbank Park here in London, and happened to see this guy across the river from me. I locked up my bike and climbed down the river bank, expecting him to take off with every step I took. But he didn't - too darned hot!



















Another bike ride - this one before a road trip that we were going to take that afternoon, when, riding out of one of London's fabulous parks, I see this guy fly across the road and land in a tree.













He wasn't nearly as shy as the heron!

Then, again on another bike ride, I hear a call and I look up...














I lose him, but then I see something else swoop above the meadow and land in this big old gnarly tree....


















He sat there for the longest time - eating and looking at me!!

Then, there are also the hawks on the side of the road...
















And the vultures on the beach - hey, they're raptors too, and although their faces may be ugly, they are huge, and beautiful too!