The best things seen on yesterday’s sunny Sunday were raptors. Most were at a considerable distance and so have a middling image quality; the last bird was near at hand and so is sharpest. Pictures are presented in the order taken.
The first thing seen was a Merlin hunting well off the side of the road.
The setting of a frost-covered tree made it worth photographing this Bald Eagle.
This is a composite showing three views of the same soaring bird. When seen from a great distance, the white on the underside of the wing and the golden colour around the neck prompted me to think this was a Golden Eagle. Alas no, the pictures almost certainly show an intermediate phase Red-tailed Hawk.
Finally, the most satisfying image of the day was another intermediate phase Red-tailed Hawk. Some of the richness of the tones can be credited to the hawk, some to the late afternoon winter sun.
