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KC? Would you consider sending that stunning juvenile bald eagle photo to Donegal at the palemaleirregulars blog, to share with her readers there?

SallyLS sent the turkey question to Donegal (why do turkeys have naked heads as they are not carrion eaters)....Interesting surmise on the reasons for it on palemaleirregulars!

Catbird, I will send it on.

This weekend, a friend and I went over to Holla Bend in northwestern Arkansas to shoot wildlife, particularly Snow Geese, Eagles, Ospreys and Hawks. The weather did not cooperate, it snowed all day today on us, however we did see a pair of red-tails and I watched one hunting in a multi-thousand count flock of blackbirds by stooping into the group like a falcon would. Amazing sight. We also saw a Red-Shouldered Hawk floating out over the fields. We also saw a flcok of Snow Geese that easily numbered 8000 birds.

 

On the way, I spotted in excess of thirty hawks along the Muskogee Turnpike ion about 15 miles. It looked like every other tree along the 'pike had at least one hawk in it.

KC: Do tell Donna/Palemale irregulars about your sightings, osprey, geese, redtails and all! It almost sounds like flocks of redtails but I don't think they flock (except when migrating). You had snow there in OK? Wow. We are under 5 and expecting 3 more. LOVE snow!

It was snowing all along the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas, we are expecting light flurries tonight. Here is a shot of the Red-Tail stooping into a huge mob of Red-Winged Blackbirds and Brewer's Blackbirds.

Here's a shot of a Red-Shouldered Hawk looking at me...

And the Red-Tail just circling lazily...

KC: These are stunning! Please do share with the PMI blog of Donna's as well? Even in such dim overcast light, these birds are just on fire with color!

KC-what a fun day!  Catbird, I love snow, too-its the COLD I can do without! We don't usually get a lot of "sticking snow" here, but they are forcasting a harsh winter so maybe I'll get to put my Jeep to use. I bought one after we got snowed in for 5 days in 1994 with 18 inches overnight-Kentucky doesn't have the equipment to handle that kind of snow, though we are better than we used to be. Jeep's been useful for the 6-8 inches we get every few years as the roads stay pretty nasty when the few plows can't keep up.

Has anyone there heard of snowy owls coming down to Oklahoma? I don't know if they ever do in your area, but there is an irruption going on-- they are further south than usual, either due to prey base collapse or harsh weather up north. There was one reported in southern Indiana but when the folks from here drove up 2 hours to see it they could not locate it.  The ones that are down here are starving, looking for prey, and very stressed, so if you see one enjoy it from a distance so as not to scare if off. Bruce Yolton has some great shots on his site of one on Long Island. www.urbanhawks.blogs.com

Sally: What a spectacular feast of photos on Bruce Yolton's site today. The merlin! The Snowy owl! The Coopers! The juvenile redtails! I do hope folks who are lucky enough to see a Snowy do leave them be. They are such glorious creatures!

Thank you for sending us there. I don't check his site as often as I should, clearly, but I will certainly be back for more, more often.

Right now my feeder tree is chock full of birds of all feathers, and right outside my study window, my hanging suet cakes, and nutcakes, and finch socks are all but invisible under the layers of birds. I need to "boot up" (where ARE my snow boots?) and do some serious re-filling!

KC those are wonderful pictures!

Thank you Sallyls for your links to such awesome websites.

Anyone remember the earthquake discussion we had a while back? Well read this:

Earthquake shakes OKC area

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Authorities say a small earthquake rattled homes in the Oklahoma City metro area tonight.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury with the quake, which struck about 8:50 p.m.

Amie Gibson with the Oklahoma Geological Survey says the temblor registered 2.7 on the Richter scale.

Gibson says the survey received reports as far east as Tinker Air Force Base, Midwest City and Del City and as far west as N.W. 122nd Street and MacArthur Boulevard. Officials received 35 reports from people who felt the quake.

Fire officials say most of the calls to emergency dispatchers were centered around the N.E. 29th Street and Martin Luther King Avenue area.

The episode lasted about 10 seconds.

Anyone who felt or heard the quake is asked to submit a report of their experience to the geological survey's Web site at www.okgeosurvey1.gov.

--- Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

 

It may have been small but it was in Okla!!!!!   UGH!

Hi Observer!  Hi all!  I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving... Observer, regarding OK's earthquake:  I take it you didn't feel anything, then (?) ... Though it was small,  I must say it is quite a big happening for OK!  ... There are some earthquake fault lines running through OK, though.  No?  I thought I had read somewhere something about that...We are still bracing ourselves for the Big One out here.  Evidently, we are way overdue for one of catastrophic proportions.  I look around, especially in our garage, and shudder.  I doubt we'd be able to get into our cars after all the stuff collapses and falls all over them.  We really should deal with that... My husband agrees, but it's just a matter of allocating the time, which never seems to happen.  >sigh<    ah, well...  At least all of our tall, heavy bookcases throughout the house are well anchored to the walls.  ... The books themselves, however, are another matter altogether. 

Hi Socal we had a good holiday

No we didn't feel anything from the earthquake thank goodness!

Yes there is a fault line through OK called the Meers Fault. I believe most of the activity from it runs through central OK. There are a lot of  trimmers but rarely are felt. So it is news worthy when one is felt! To me that would be a very sickening feeling for the earth to be shaking under me! Growing up we always heard about Ca "big one" and some day it will fall off into the ocean! LOL!

My neice moved to Seattle Wa. a few years ago and while they were on the way they had that last major earthquake in Wa. I always said I would have turned around and came back!  Of course she is happy there and there hasn't been any since.

I guess there are going to be natural disasters no matter where you are. That is just a part of life we have to live with it!

Well watch out for flying books then! LOL!!

Good advice, Observer : - ) Thanks. Maybe once I get my new bike helmet, I should wear it in the house, as well (HA!) ?!?

On a new "Raptor Rap" note... Our area is CHOCK FULL of Red-Shoulder and Red-Tail hawk sitings these days, along the roadways ALL OVER the place! .... Mostly on light poles. Very beautiful, very awesome birds!!! Mostly, I see them when I'm in the car, and on a mission... But, I can't help but slow a bit and crane my head as I pass, if no traffic is following behind or around me... There seem to be so many more of them right now, I wonder if they are migrating to, or through our area.

My sightings have increased by a large magnitude as well. I think the birds are more active here in Oklahoma as the temperature drops becasue prey is less abundant due to the cold and the birds don't overheat near as much.

I went out to Keystone Dam area again Sunday morning and spotted a few Eagles and a Red-Tail Hawk...

Juvenile Bald Eagle comes in for landing

Lucky photo through trees of juvenile Bad Eagle in flight

Red-Tail Hawk slope soaring east side of Keystone Dam in strong southerly wind