RLHA on Plum Island

On our way back to Boston from Vermont yesterday Patrick and I stopped by Plum Island for a peek at some birds.  Though we had great success finding a Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks in VT, Rough-legged Hawks were not to be seen.  Lucky for us, this one was hunting in a field just off the road on Plum Island!

Notice the long leg feathers this bird is sporting.

It's cold in my tent...

Long eared feet

Photo by Larry

Adult goshawk

Photo by Larry


Photo by Larry

RL

Photo by Larry

Harrier

Photo by Larry

Bouquets of owls

Photo by Larry

In Review

I grabbed a couple hundred photos from Larry, who got some great shots throughout the season, so I'll be putting up his pictures for a while, as I have no new ones, and a way of reviewing the season, which is essentially at an end.


Photo by Larry

Kestrel

Photo by Larry


Photo by Larry

Pbird

Photo by Larry

Grant releasing the rough leg

Photo by Larry

Adult goshawk. Redder than red.

Photo by Larry

Long eared with a broken pupil...

Photo by Larry

Fud, in his element

Photo by Larry

Rough-legged, in the house

Yesterday I had a visit from Melley and Grant and despite great winds we spent a few hours in the blind seeing very little. Around 5pm though we started seeing rough-legged hawks, our first of the year. They're arctic birds with very distinct black wing patched and feathered legs. We had four or five give us very low looks, but they are tentative birds and weren't biting. Finally I had a true set, and it was in the bag. Not only was it our first of few for the year, but it's always nice when visitors get to see something special.

Awesome bird.

Rough legs


About red tail sized