Birdchick

After being sequestered in the apartment for a few days, I really needed to get out. I’m mostly better and have that whole throaty voice thing going on (which I would use on Non Birding Bill if it wouldn’t keep getting ruined by fits of a doctor would call a “productive cough”–ick.) But it was so nice out and I needed some fresh air. I got on the highway and thought about stopping at a local nature center and began having second thoughts–moving around, I realized I was still fighting the virus and probably shouldn’t be standing outside just yet. But then I saw it…

I was passing the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and noticed two raptors flying. One was a red-tail, the other was a little different–it was a rough-legged. I found an exit on the highway to turn around and make my way towards Cargo Rd (where the snowy owl is usually observed) and just as I passed beneath the birds, the rough-legged did hard dive onto the red-tail. Even though the red-tail was slightly larger, it booked out of there. By the time I was off the highway and on to Cargo Rd, the rough-legged had landed and was sitting on a hangar.

I pulled over on a side street leading to a hangar where the hawk was perched. I wasn’t sure if this was an area where people are allowed to pull over–it was far away from fences, not planes were in direct site and there was plenty of space coming and going for approaching traffic to see me. I decided to try and digiscope it. These really are beautiful hawks and I’m so glad that I took a moment to watch it in the scope. Check out in the above photo how the hawk is looking directly at me. Now here is a photo of the hawk without the spotting scope:

That teeny tiny dark spot on the top of the hangar is the hawk–quite a testament to that amazing raptor eyesight! After five minutes, I decided not to push my luck with airport security and get moving. Turned around and headed over to Cargo Rd and the rough-legged hawk took flight.

Then it landed on a light post above my car and I took a quick photo through my windshield. I’m not sure how long it will stick around. There’ve been rough-legs all over the Twin Cities this winter but I never seem to see them in the same place twice, they’re constantly on the move.

If you need a bird fix, check out Liz Stanley’s photos from Sax Zim Bog. She may not have seen a wolf, but she did get some photos of a pine marten when she was watching one of the deer carcasses–sweet!

UPDATE: Chad Gustafson got some photos of the same rough-legged hawk south of the airport, check out his photos (Big Brother Hawk is watching you…).