Panics the snow geese (Click/tap to enlarge),
driving them high in the sky,
into protective formation,
over The Salton Sea in Southern California.
When the threat passes,
the geese return,
to feast and float.
Smart Snow Birds,
head south for the winter,
to loaf in the sun,
and play in the sea.
They only fly north when the sun comes out!
Cheers to you from the sun loving snow geese at The Salton Sea~
Note: I am guessing the predating raptor is a Harrier Hawk, but welcome correction if wrong.
in flight over The Salton Sea in Southern California. (Click/tap to enlarge)
A pair in breeding plumage,
reflecting fragile,
flying beauty.
We continue to be deluged,
by blessed rain and snow,
with still more forecasted.
Salton Sea is cleaner and fuller than I have ever seen,
making the wintering birds happy.
They are ready now,
for the arduous flight north to breed.
Cheers to you from The Salton Sea~
Harris Hawks lift off from my glove,
soar straight up in the sky to fly,
and land precisely back with Jim.
Flying hawks is incredible.
Lethal precision hunters,
they are woe to birdies in the sky,
and critters fleeing on the ground.
They are savage beauties,
and magnificent creatures.
Cheers to you from the Harris Hawks~
The Holler after the rains.
The birdies are happy,
healthy and fat!
For the first time we have goldfinch in large numbers, (tap or click to enlarge to see flying bird detail)
feasting on a bowl of seeds,
along with all the other finches and sparrows. The little black seeds you see scattered all over are thistle seeds. It is the first time I put thistle out and the goldfinch love it!
The tiny gold beauties,
manage to hold their own,
with the much larger,
finches.
It’s no brag,
just fact,
The Holler has the very best neighbors!
Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Heavies~
We’ve gotten lots of rain and more is coming this weekend! The lakes and creeks are filling up, making the critters (and me) happy.
I am going to be disappointed in myself if I get these identifications wrong,
but I think this handsome guy is a Ring Necked Duck.
Duck identification is difficult. (You can actually see the ring around his neck in this photo which is unusual).
We have thirty or so duck species in California, and that doesn’t include all the ones that aren’t supposed to be here! (Birds don’t read the manuals).
I think this similar,
but the not the same beauty,
is a lesser scaup male,
and here is the female.
Here they are together. Of course, I could be wrong. But irregardless of ID, a duck by any other name would quack the same!
Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Quackers~
make friends,
easily,
with onecan.
But toucans?
Toucan’t!
Cheers to you from one friendly can~
Note: This is a Toco Toucan. They are highly intelligent birds and are the largest and longest living toucans. They can live up to thirty years. Many types of toucans are endangered in the wild due to habitat destruction and hunting, but Toco populations are currently stable.
Holler Hooters,
are the very best neighbors!
This little guy,
flies with his friend Katie Pnewski,
at Avian Behavior International in Southern California.
We have nesting barn owls in our owl boxes at The Holler.
Check out this frumpy little chick on his first day out of his nest, napping, and making a new friend!
Cheers to you from The Happy Holler Hooters~
They remind me,
very much,
of my childhood ballet teachers.
They have the same haughty
mien,
and graceful moves.
They love shaking their tutus,
and dressing up for opening night!
Who doesn’t?
Check out the even more graceful wild ones in South Africa at:
https://cindyknoke.com/tag/south-africa/
Wishing you a Joyous & Healthy New Year from the prancing dancers at Ostrich Land in California~
