Sharpeyesonline's photostream  

A Big West Swell hit the Southern California coastline on Friday, January 6, 2012. I went down to my "office" in the A.M. and spent a good part of the day photographing the surf at the South peak, A frame and North peak. This surfer makes the late drop at the A Frame. He did not make the wave. www.sharpeyesonline.com

While at my monitoring station this year I observed some spectacular Peregrine Falcon behavior. On this day, the Falcon (female) captured a prey bird in mid air just about my Palapa. She than took it to the ground 30' behind my observation post. I watched her as she began plucking and eating the prey bird. It took her a good hour to get her fill. All the while, there were a few California ground squirrels nearby, that would occasionally distract her attention from eating. You can see more of this series at www.sharpeyesonline.com

This was my 6th year documenting the behavior of this particular female Falcon and her Tiercel mate. They provided me with many dramatic days, displaying their tremendous vison and flying skills. On this day, with their binocular eyesight they spotted a snake moving below their eyrie (nest) on the cliffs. The Falcon and Tiercel both began diving on the snake, trying to flip it off the cliff and onto the beach below. In this image the Falcon is diving down on the snake just above my monitoring station. The attack lasted for an hour. They wounded the snake and I did not see it again. www.sharpeyesonline.com

This was my 6th year monitoring and documenting a wild pair of Peregrine Falcons here along the coast of Southern Calfirnia. This year I stayed on my site over 110 days, usually 8-10 hours per day. Passion.

While sitting under the shade of my Palapa, the adult Tiercel (male) began diving at something along the bluff behind me. I turned and saw that he was attacking a Rattle snake. I focused my lens on the snake hoping to capture the Tiercel in the same frame as he dove at speed trying to flip the snake up in the air with his talons. He hit the snake 4 times. This is one frame of two that I captured with both the snake and the Tiercel in the frame. Note that the Rattler is trying to strike at the speedy Tiercel. The Snake was not fast enough. I was able to document 6 other snake attacks this year. Peregrine Falcon adults are extremely defensive during nesting season. This unlucky rattler was eventually flipped off the bluff onto the beach. www.sharpeysonline.com

While on a recent trip to Northern Utah I spent a day exploring the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. There was a multitude of waterfowl and several species of raptors. This golden eyed Male Northern Harrier was elusive but after a several hours of watching his flight patterns I was finally able to capture several images of him as he hunted over the snow covered marsh. www.sharpeyesonline.com