Tag: Ridgefield

Who Am I?

A close-up view of the feathers on the back of a great blue heron at Rest Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington on February 17, 2009. Original: _MG_1411.CR2

Can you guess who owns this feathery back?

I took the picture of the feathers while the heron hunted for fish in the shallows of Rest Lake, then focused on its face when it wheeled around to listen for voles in the grasses on the shoreline.

Photo Details:
📷: Canon 20D | Canon 500mm f/4L IS USM + Tamron 1.4x (probably)
🗓️: February 17, 2009

A close-up view of the face of a great blue heron with a broken beak tip at Rest Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington on February 17, 2009. Original: _IMG1562.CR2

Hawk On A Stick

A close-up view of a young red-tailed hawk raising its head high while preening on the auto tour at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington in February 2008

It’s not uncommon to see hawks perched at close range on the many signposts around the auto tour at Ridgefield — what I like to call hawks on a stick. I loved the pose when this preening redtail stretched its neck out to an unusually tall height. Young birds like this one often have pale brown eyes that will darken with age.