Eagles continue

 Seems Bald Eagles are flooding the sites these days!  

this stretch of clear sunny weather with frosty mornings has certainly drawn out the photographers.  Personally, I would have preferred some of the fog that others experienced, but we've had none.

the log bay continues to be the center of activity and I'm pleased to report that it seems people have got the message and are respecting the rope boundaries.  There really is no need to 'try to get closer', the eagles couldn't get much closer!  These ones are actually behind the lineup of cameras.

this is the fellow in the bottom left of the above picture....

and this is the one sitting on the log trying to decide if it is worth the effort to go bug the one eating.....apparently not.  

Of course there are other bird species around...

Gulls continue in large numbers, this pair of Glaucous-wing were being very vocal this afternoon.

Crows had a bit to say too.

this Song Sparrow was enjoying the fresh cones of the native Alder Tree.

while this female House Finch was enjoying the dried up blackberries.

Might as well end of, with what else...

another Bald Eagle.

and yet more eagles

 It's definitely that time of the year!  Every bird site you look at is full of pictures of Harrison Mill's eagles....so might as well add a few more here...

Decorating a log....

enjoying a meal...

surveying the scene....

at the edge of the river...

no shortage of food....

putting on a show for all the visitors....

Apart from the eagles, there hasn't been much to see - perhaps the weather is just too nice right now!

we did spot a Northern Shrike the other day, the first sighting of the season for one of these little guys

and this Spotted Towhee was enjoying the last of the Pacific Crabapples...

While today a Pacific Wren decided to show it self for a few moments.  

Eagles, nuthin' but Eagles

 OK, so I guess it is officially Eagle season.....

sometimes they seem to be everywhere, 

sometimes they are in nice and close, and they will stay that way if you stay on the trails, behind the barriers and don't appear threatening with huge amounts of camera equipment.  This photo taken with a 'bridge' camera, small enough to tuck in a jacket.

sometimes they take their meal up into a tree to enjoy.

Sometimes they share....

Sometimes they don't....

On bright sunny days, they tend to take to the skies so best to look up where they enjoy riding the thermals.

If you are lucky enough to have a boat, we are hearing that there are more eagles than have been seen for years.  It will be interesting what any 'official' counts are.  Certainly there is no lack of food, in fact it is surprising how much is just laying around going to waste because no one is eating it. Of course it isn't really 'going to waste', it all goes back into the environment.

Please stay on trails.....

 I really hesitate to post these pictures.... with the eagles, come the photographers....this wouldn't be an issue if everyone would just stay on the trails, obey the barriers and signage and respect the environment, unfortunately, not everyone does.  

this is a prime example.  Why?  With a lens that size there is no need be down, past the barrier, a few feet further back isn't going to make the slightest difference.  Of course you will notice there aren't any eagles there....not surprising, they tend to take off when they spot people, especially people packing lots of equipment.

and there are eagles....this taken while walking the trail, with dogs and a camera that can be tucked under my jacket...

Eagles have been known to kill gulls, but when there is this much food lying around, they are happy to share.

weather, today, could best be described as unsettled.  This was Harrison Bay this afternoon, not visible in this picture, but there was a dusting of snow on all the surrounding hill tops.

there were about a dozen eagles scattered along the walk, this one a juvenile....

this one almost an adult.  

Besides eagles...

there were some Dark-eyed Junco....

and a total of 4 Northern Flicker - this one a female.

Also noted was....

dinner plate sized Fly Agaric or Amanita Mushroom.  Thought they were finished, but this one showed up today.

All the usual suspects

We've had some very wet days and some very quiet days, but today was a day when all the usual suspects, the birds you know are here, decided to show themselves.

 It started with some Killdeer this morning.  Unfortunately the grass grew so high this year it is hard to get a picture through it.

but most of the activity was over in the Kilby area...

Black-capped Chickadees were all over, there were also some Brown Creepers and even a Ruby Crowned Kinglet, although not cooperative for pictures

A Varied Thrush blended in nicely 

Several Steller's Jay were seen

Bald Eagles of course, this one a 4 year old

The first Fox Sparrow of the season....we seem to only see this large chunky sparrow in winter, unlike the Song Sparrow that are here year round

Not nearly as many geese as you would expect, but there were a few in one of the fields.  Swans flew over and some were visible way out on Harrison Bay

Quite a few Downy Woodpeckers being very active, this was a male.  Also saw a Hairy Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker.

Even spotted an American Robin in the hedgerow

and a Great Blue Heron on a piling.  Actually there was another perched in a tree nearby.  As for ducks, the only one seen were Mallards and there were only a few Glaucous-wing Gulls around.

Eagle season has arrived

 It took a while, but I think it is safe to say that eagle season has arrived!  When we ventured out after today's torrential rains......

there were eagles everywhere - this the 'eagle tree' by the viewing platform...

I stood in one spot at the log bay and took pictures from left to right across the flats - this #1

#2

#3

#4

#5 - and they continued on even further.

and they weren't just 'out there'

almost every tree sported an eagle 'drip drying'.

a bit more water showing up now, which is good because there are sure a lot of Chum Salmon.  Maybe after this weekend with it's prediction of more rain, we might actually have a 'bay' here again.

Lot's of gulls around too....

including the tiny and unusual for this area, Bonaparte Gull on the left, beside a young Short-bill Gull. These guys are after the salmon eggs, not the salmon themselves.

where this guy, probably an Olympic (cross between a Glaucous-wing and Western) is eyeing a live salmon just below it.