The migratory birds and water fowl are making their way north and passing through our area. Here are a few that have been afloat (on water and air) this past week. These American White Pelicans are getting some R&R on Green Valley State Park Lake as the wing their way to Canada.
One of the largest birds in North America, the White Pelicans have a 9-foot wingspan. This pelican skidded in for a landing among the floating and feeding ducks.
Unfortunately, these were motivated into flight as I slowly approached.
This male Horned Grebe is showing his breeding plumage, yellowish patches of feathers behind its eyes that it can raise and lower at will.
The Canadian Geese wintered at the state park and have all but left. But they did enjoy being afloat both on ice and water when they weren’t foraging in the surrounding corn and soybean fields. (A few Mallards are in the mix of the group shot)
And finally, these shots of a Bald Eagle were caught at the park in early March as it soared overhead. At this point it appeared to see some prey with head and talons lowered, but the eagle stayed afloat on the winds, circling for another ten minutes.
Check HERE for more examples of “afloat.”
Later, I found another hawk roosting in the deserted campground. However, it would fly to another tree every time I approached for a clear shot. Finally yesterday afternoon, I saw it flying toward the camp ground. As I slowly drove into the area, there it was, roosting 40 feet up in a tree no more than 20 feet from the road. I eased the car as close as I could and stepped out on the far side to allow me to stay obscured. Much to my delight, the hawk gave me the “reward” of a three-minute “drive-by” photo shoot.
Rural Iowa Pastor 