After our snowy and rainy weekend, Hazel and I needed to get back to our daily hiking routine. So we headed over to the north end of the rez first thing Monday morning. I thought briefly if I should bring my camera and decided to leave it home. Well, that was a mistake!
Hazel and I were barely into our hike when I heard the familiar call of an osprey behind me. I turned to see a pair of osprey flying right at me! Are you kidding me? Of course I enjoyed seeing them but getting that photograph would have been spectacular!
We walked a bit farther and I spotted a bald eagle in a clump of trees along the shore. Damn! Another missed opportunity!
Then we get to Coot lake and there was a couple of great blue herons perched in a tree! Crap!
Hazel and I had a fun hike to start the day but those missed opportunities haunted me all day!
So this morning, I made sure to take my camera along with the Hazel dog! Another beautiful day greeted us and we began our hike. And because I had my camera, there were no osprey flying at me or bald eagles perched close by. But I am a half full glass kind of gal, so I was hopeful!
We made it all around Coot lake before I spotted this killdeer......
We continued on when I saw an osprey flying east over the rez. So we took the trail along the shore in hopes he would return the same way with a fish. No luck there but I did spot this shore bird. Actually there was pair! So cool!
While Hazel is very respectful of wildlife, I was pretty sure she would spook them. So I put her in a down/stay and got closer to these guys! I was not sure who they were but when I got home I looked them up. They are willets! A lifer for me!
I spent at least 5 minutes photographing the willets and yes, Hazel stayed put the whole time! Good dog!
We headed for the trailhead to go home and have breakfast. But I spotted an osprey perched on the pole near Monica's house. Hmmm maybe he/she would fly towards me? Monica and her dog Daisy were starting their hike, so we said hi and chatted for a minute. Just then, the osprey headed right for us! The light was a bit harsh but I got a few decent pics......
It was time to head home for some much needed coffee but I decided to stop by and check on the owlets. I knew they were together, so I hoped to get a pic of that.
I found a good spot between the branches to get a decent pic but only Sky was looking at me.......
Lucky for me, I stepped on a twig which woke up George and gave me this pic!
How cute are they!
As I was taking their photo, momma Cher flew into one of her favorite spots to watch over the kids!
Well, that was a great way to start the day!
Thanks for reading!
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