Life in Riley County » Birds

Picture of the Week – May 27, 2010

dlstrom — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Watching You…

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a hoot barred owl sitting on a sign along side the road leading out to our house. He was there one evening and then again the next morning. Then, he was gone.

Yesterday, as I drove to work in a light rain, there he was again. He was closely watching the ground – probably looking for some critter to eat. When I stopped my truck on the road to watch him, he looked directly at me and I got this picture.

Pretty cool, eh?

- Dan

Picture of the Week – January 14, 2010

dlstrom — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:55:00 +0000

A Bright Spot

Leaves are gone off the trees. The grass is brown. The sky is cloudy. People get depressed. The temperatures lately have been hitting near-record lows. Most people are just trying to get through winter and are looking forward to spring.

But, keep your eyes open. There are always bright spots, like the Cardinal that is pictured above.

Let’s not get so focused on surviving winter that we forget to look for the Bright Spots that are all around us.

- Dan

Picture of the Week – November 26, 2009

dlstrom — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving, 2008. The feast was being prepared at the homestead, but one item was missing. So, at the request of my sweetheart, I jumped in the Highlander and headed toward town.

Looking out across a harvested soybean field, I noticed a bald eagle feasting on a deer carcass. Slamming on the brakes, I veered (it was a controlled veering…) into the ditch and grabbed my camera from the back seat. Jumping out I worked on changing lenses as I stumbled through the growth along the edge of the road.

That eagle stayed still long enough for me to grab a few shots of him before he looked at me and gracefully took to flight. Last I saw of him he was heading south toward the river.

Keep you eyes open this winter. Eagles are becoming more common around Riley County.

- Dan

Picture of the Week – November 19, 2009

dlstrom — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Blue Heron At The Lake

Do you see him? He’s pretty well hidden in this picture.

Many birds are native, or at least pass through, Riley County. Wading birds, like the Blue Heron, are often seen in areas where there are bodies of water or rivers.

This picture was taken near the Stockdale area of Tuttle Creek.

- Dan