Thursday, February 19, 2009

Sky Watch

I got to go to the much loved strip pits today...just had to get out there for a little bit. I had noticed that we weren't seeing many geese here at home and I had told Roger I think they have left and I think from what we seen they headed north. I think this is as far south as they come...lots of cornfields and quite a few strip pits...today we seen very few geese and all winter there have been so many. Too many to even begin to count. Today, I didn't see but a couple in flight and not many more on the water.
However, after we had been there we started seeing the hawks...does anyone know for sure what the one above is? I have looked and looked at my books and cannot really decide...he doesn't match anything exactly. Yet from the sound of both books, there are always variations within a species. I don't think he is one of the Northern Harriers...he just was not flying as they normally do. Most times when I see them they do not have their tail fanned out as this one does and if this is one he is a variation.
The sky was interesting...maybe not as pretty as other times but still beautiful.
Depending on the direction you looked, you could get a totally different look. these two were taken within minutes of each other but just looking different directions.
As was this one...just a minute earlier the hill was bathed in sunlight...but a cloud shaded the hill about the time I decided to take a picture. I sat there a few minutes because I thought the cloud blocking the sun was going to pass but it didn't. You can tell by the brilliant blue sky though that it was still there.
And then there was this fellow...isn't he handsome? I think he is one of the Northern Harriers..we seen so many of them today. On one of the pictures of it, I think I can see the white patch on its rump.
If you want to join the fun of Skywatch, click on the badge at the top of this post.

24 comments:

  1. Interesting sky pictures, Rose. Looks like several days instead of one.. As you said, depending upon which direction you turned---the sky looked different. SO interesting!!!

    I have no idea about the hawk.. Beautiful though
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  2. The sky sure put on quite a show for you -- showing several moods in one day. Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

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  3. Rose: You made some beautiful flying captures of the hawks and really neat skies in your post.

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  4. What a great set of photos today Rose!
    Those are the kind of skies I adore.
    Can't help on the names of those hawks but the photos are quite good. I'm posting hawks on Saturday.
    How was the baby?

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  5. A great sequence of interesting skies. Those bird pictures are lovely..

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  6. I love the set of photos you captured here, i love that huge bail of hay too, really stands out in that open field and sky

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  7. I wish I knew more about hawks. I never seem to be able to catch them with my camera. I think the flying hawk photos are amazing!

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  8. Those sky shots are wonderful, Rose.

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  9. What you're describing is the point I was making a week or two ago. If you like the light you see in front of you, turn around and look behind you.

    I'm not knowledgeable enough about birds to identify either of these guys, but they're both good shots of a very challenging subject.

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  10. Wonder set of photos Rose. I hope someone identifies those hawks as I would like to know also. You captured them beautifully in flight. Thank you very much for stopping by my SWF post and leaving such nice comments. I appreciated them very much.

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  11. What beautiful clouds...they almost look as though they're painted. Very nice!

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting. :o)

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  12. A very good series of photos for sky watch Friday, thanks for dropping by.

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  13. I love those with white cotton clouds. They are just fantastic. Those hawks are also amazing. Wow ...

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  14. I hate being so far behind on everyone's blogs and keep trying to catch up a few here and there. I always love seeing what is happening back in Indiana! Looks like the weather is pretty nice. Lovely hawk photos!

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  15. You had a nice, clear day there. I really like the hawk shots. Raptors are sometimes hard to identify; my bird book always has them illustrated from underneath but often we see them perched on fences. Because of its size I am thinking it is a red tailed hawk but someone else might be more informed.

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  16. Lovely series of sky shots, Rose.

    Happy weekend.

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  17. Beautiful flying captures you got. And the sky shot the clouds are amazing.

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  18. Great photos! :) I tried to get a photo of a hawk sat in a tree yesterday, but he swooped and flew off before I could lift my camera up... It obviously knew what I was up to!

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  19. I am not familiar with these birds, but they are lovely shots. Thanks for stopping by!

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  20. Rose, you got some great shots!!

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  21. Beautiful shots Rose, I love the fields at this time of year. Thank you for sharing and stopping by. Have a great weekend. Smiles
    P.S. Your new grandbaby is beautiful, lucky you.

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  22. Incredible shots - I love that sky in the 4th shot!

    I have something for you on my page! Come check it out!

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  23. Hi! I don't know a lot about birds, but I think this may be an Osprey. Not sure though. Sorry

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  24. Always the birds in flight captured are best for me.

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