Nov 1
This gallery contains 4 photos.
Friends, the last day on Hawk Ridge was a wonderful sunny blue sky day and the birds were really flying. We saw 101 bald eagles in 1 hour against a clear sky. They didn’t capture any eagles but, my husband, Jim (jimspringett.com) adopted this young male Redtail hawk and released it. The bird energy can […]
Friends, this is the last day at Hawk ridge for the educators and volunteers. I have learned so much from them about the raptors that i can never thank them enough. I t has been a wonderful fall season. thanks everyone. My one hawk that i have not seen up close is a rough legged hawk, but i saw this one on my way home on Monday, so maybe i will see one up close today. This hawk was quite a good way and even with the telephoto he was probably too far for a great shot, but he is a symbol of the whole project and a target for today. so onward and upward, til Tomorrow MJ
Oct 30
This gallery contains 3 photos.
Friends, these images illustrate differences in individual Northern Goshawks. Both birds are first year hatch birds, both males but the white content varies from white in the right hand bird to a cream color in the left hand image. Both images were balanced with the white in the bird and the backgrounds are very different, […]
Friends, this immature redtailed Hawk is eyeing me, he wants to be sure that i stay in my vehicle blind and don’t come any closer to his tree. I am often asked how i get so close to the birds and i answer that staying in your vehicle is the key. Sitting quietly in your vehicle in a place where the birds are usually present will increase your chances of getting close. Of course this takes loads of patience so be prepared to spend a few minutes watching the landscape and quieting your soul; you may get more rewards than patience itself. My husband liked this image this morning, so I dedicate this blog to him. This hawk is probably headed south at this time, but I have the photo to remember him til he returns in the spring. til Tomorrow MJ
Friends, These birds are sometimes foreign to Wisconsin having migrated from the far North. We are Florida to these rough-legged Hawks. I am putting together a book of the hawks that i have photographed from Hawk Ridge this fall during the migration. One specie is being difficult to get a photo, although a few have gone over the ridge, I have not been there when a Rough-Legged Hawk has been in hand. This Roughie was photographed by me in Crex during a recent irruption year, maybe it will be my only photograph. They get their name from the beautiful feathering on their legs that protects them from ice, snow and other hazards of the very far northland. I have three days left to photo this bird, maybe I will get lucky. til Tomorrow MJ
Friends, this Bald Eagle is a youngster, but not sure if it is a hatch year bird or older, they don’t reach maturity until they are five years old and the plumage changes every year. This immature was perched in a birch tree on a cloudy day, hence the white background. Several Eagles of all ages were gathered above a deer that was probably a wolf kill. They were enjoying their breakfast til i came along and disturbed their Thanksgiving dinner (early), the wild have to eat when the opportunity arises, til Tomorrow MJ
Friends,this pheasant was not afraid of the rain and came out to visit with me, he ran parallel to my car for awhile and i shot his portrait, then he disappeared into the marsh. I love the red webbing around his eye, I have never observed that up close before, so it is a first for me, had to share with you, til Tomorrow MJ 
Friends, this is Trumpeter Swan 47E and i think he/she woke up cranky. As these swans were settling into their nightly roost, there was lots of chasing and jostling to vie for space. After about ten minutes of this activity all were quietly preening and tolerating the presence of others. Not your typical swan image but tells of behavior not often shown, I love the feathering on the underside of the wing, til Tomorrow MJ
Friends, this image is to show what October means to me and to enter the October Photo Challenge, please tune in and enter, it is still October, isn’t it?, but October means bird migration to me. These Greater Sandhill Cranes are on their way to the south and if you follow my blog regularly, you have seen the hawk migration up close and personal, til Tomorrow MJ
Friends, this is not a mating pair of Trumpeter Swans, but an adult (in front) leading a youngster from this years hatch. The young swan is gray with a pink bill, while the adult is white with a black bill. There are many Trumpeters on Crex Meadows right now, gathering for their migration. This family of five didn’t like all the noise that the Sandhill Cranes were making, so they departed. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 