davidcreebirder's photostream  

Was totally blown away that this Hawk was apparently "out in the middle of nowhere" along Arivaca Road about 1/2 way between I-19 (south of Tucson) and the tiny town of Arivaca.

10 times out of 10 this guy is ALWAYS near water---not this day. Elated that I got a photo so close--in fact the closest I have ever seen a Gray Hawk...only disappointment was the perch--wish it had been on a tree instead of this telephone pole... Still in all, a wonderful find.

Enjoy

This is a re-post from several years ago, but I recently entered this image along with 3 others in a local Photo Contest called Nature Undisturbed. I won first place two years ago with a Sandhill Crane photo from Bosque del Apache, in New Mexico.

I hope this one does well this year. Of the hundreds of images entered from all over the U.S., few are of birds. But, since that's about all I do, as you all know---that's what I entered!! LOL!

Hope many of my newer Flickr contacts will enjoy this, one of my favorites, of this truly beautiful bird at sunrise.

My wife and I would like to wish all Flickr friends all over the world, a very Merry Christmas and a most Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless you all!!!!

We will be on our way to Dallas, Texas in a few days to visit with my extended family there.
Will be off Flickr during the holidays.......

Be safe, have fun!!!!

I am re-posting this photo as was published in the Dec issue of Bird Watching Magazine (formerly called Birder's World).

The article is titled : Birding Moments---birding with a loved one (page 44)

The author, Eldon Greij, recounts several of his vivid memories of birding with certain relatives, especially his daughter . One account tells of birding with a polio stricken cousin on a North Dakota homestead next to his mother's.

Where , he recounts, Chestnut-collared Longspurs were "common" and "all over"!!!!!!!

Wish I had gone to that homestead when I was in North Dakota-----!!!!! So Glad I got this ONE BIRD to pose for me. Little did I know over 2 years ago when I crawled on my hands and knees to get this shot that it would later be used in a birding magazine article to recount fond memories of birding shared with loved ones!! I was very honored.

Was with Dr. Gene Koziara when I shot this photo during fall migration. You can see that the prominent 'necklace' usually seen on a mature male is just barely forming on this young male just born this summer.

Still in all, a very beautiful bird. Enjoy