Since starting to babysit Lorelei, and with all the other things going on, I have not been getting out to the strip pits. We were headed by there last week and made a run through part of it, and did again this evening. This is one of a few little sunflowers that was growing right in the edge of the road. I love how it is backlit. Believe it or not, I don't think it was even two feet tall.
But that is not what I want to report. What we have seen is Northern Harrier hawks...both times. Only one last week, and just a couple today. Though there were some other birds soaring that just might have been them. I know, most times it is buzzards when there are several, but out there I have seen several Northern Harriers at the same time.
Either way, it was hard not to keep a big goofy smile on my face. I just love seeing them...they are the only birds I have ever seen besides a hummingbird that can just hover in flight. I really hope I can get time to spend out there when they all come back, and hopefully get a good picture or two.
Some of the fields have been partially mowed and some were in the process of being bailed today. Maybe we will be able to see more wildlife if it is not quite so grown up. I would have loved to spend more time out there, but had things I had to so so we just went through one little section of it and went on about our business.