2017 12-06 Llano Seco
-
Suellen and I spent the day driving to Llano Seco, spending a short amount of time there before driving back. Photographs were taken all along the route which ran North on Hwy 99 then west on Hwy 162, north again on Road Z which continues north under the name 7 Mile Drive. The viewing platform is several miles north of the Llano Seco hunting access lot.
Both going to and coming back from Llano Seco on Hwy 162, there was a large red-tailed hawk perched on one of those orange and white slanted gas pipe marker signs. The hawk was perched high on the sign, perhaps 6 feet off the ground. I did my first series of shots somewhat concealed next to my truck which was parked across the street and down the road a little bit. After a while it took off and flew close to the ground across a plowed field heading north. On the way back, the hawk was again perched on an orange and white marker (not sure if it was the same one) and this time I shot looking out from the driver’s side window. Lots of other RTH’s (not photographed) were on telephone poles, fence posts and trees as we were in the Llano Seco area.
On Road Z thousands of geese were resting in the ponds and took flight in a wave as a female harrier buzzed them. Geese filled the sky and their mumurations were spectacular. We saw these masses of birds in flight both coming and going.
The viewing platform looked out on a large wetland area full of ducks. It was afternoon and a cold wind blew across the pond and I was under-dressed for it. Two nice birders on the platform pointed out a gray ghost in the distance, probably one that passed our truck, coming at us as we prepared to turn into the platform parking area. The two men also spoke of several bald eagles that had, 10 or 15 minutes earlier, fought over a duck they’d taken in a mid-air battle. The eagles were now 1/3rd mile north east of and across the highway.
To the north you could see the snow-covered peak of Mt. Shasta.
---- --- -- - >><-//-O>
-
Read MoreSuellen and I spent the day driving to Llano Seco, spending a short amount of time there before driving back. Photographs were taken all along the route which ran North on Hwy 99 then west on Hwy 162, north again on Road Z which continues north under the name 7 Mile Drive. The viewing platform is several miles north of the Llano Seco hunting access lot.
Both going to and coming back from Llano Seco on Hwy 162, there was a large red-tailed hawk perched on one of those orange and white slanted gas pipe marker signs. The hawk was perched high on the sign, perhaps 6 feet off the ground. I did my first series of shots somewhat concealed next to my truck which was parked across the street and down the road a little bit. After a while it took off and flew close to the ground across a plowed field heading north. On the way back, the hawk was again perched on an orange and white marker (not sure if it was the same one) and this time I shot looking out from the driver’s side window. Lots of other RTH’s (not photographed) were on telephone poles, fence posts and trees as we were in the Llano Seco area.
On Road Z thousands of geese were resting in the ponds and took flight in a wave as a female harrier buzzed them. Geese filled the sky and their mumurations were spectacular. We saw these masses of birds in flight both coming and going.
The viewing platform looked out on a large wetland area full of ducks. It was afternoon and a cold wind blew across the pond and I was under-dressed for it. Two nice birders on the platform pointed out a gray ghost in the distance, probably one that passed our truck, coming at us as we prepared to turn into the platform parking area. The two men also spoke of several bald eagles that had, 10 or 15 minutes earlier, fought over a duck they’d taken in a mid-air battle. The eagles were now 1/3rd mile north east of and across the highway.
To the north you could see the snow-covered peak of Mt. Shasta.
---- --- -- - >><-//-O>
-
Red-tailed hawk with nictitating membrane partially closed.
Buteo jamaicensis CLOSE - nictitating membrane - 2017 12-06 Llano Seco-b-006
