Erict: Your photos really made my day! They are wonderful and the comments and observations acompanying them were most interesting and informative! Thank you very much!
I now live in SW Montana and the bird life here is just amazing! I am especially interested in observing the Birds of Prey when I am afield!
In a normal spring day I get to see Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Ospreys, several species of Hawks and a couple species of Falcons! In the evenings there is usually a large Owl perched in one of my trees waiting for Cottontailed Rabbits to emerge!
On a daily basis I get to see Meadow Larks, Magpies, Black Birds, Robins and Starlings.
I live just north of the Centennial Valley which has a National Bird Refuge in it. There are large marshy lakes in the Centennial Refuge and I read that in a typical year 232 different species of birds come to the Centennial Valley. I see Birders from all over the country in the Valley during the summer.
Many many species of raptors dwell there in the spring summer and fall! Most leave because of the harsh winters there.
I would really love to see 1,000 birds of prey in one day sometime! I am guessing but I imagine the most birds of prey I have seen in one day is around 80 - 100! None the less a very entertaining day!
Thanks again for the photos and interesting comments!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy