New Construction

High on top of the Riel Drive communication tower an Osprey sits on its newly constructed nest, as seen from the J Poole Wetland boardwalk.

Getting ready

One of a pair of Ospreys collecting twigs for nest building on the cell phone tower at the south end of Riel Drive.

Fly by

One of a pair of Red-tailed hawks that flew overhead just after a nest building Osprey had flown by.

Eagles over the tree tops

An adult and an immature Bald Eagle swoop over the tree tops in Lois Hole Park. (Crop)

Dropping In

A second year Immature Bald Eagle lands on the ice at Big Lake.

Sparring

A pair of Immature Bald Eagles start a sparring session over Big Lake, a second year immature looks on, the Canada Geese head in the other direction. (cropped)

The perch (redux)

This perch on a beaver lodge on the Sturgeon River has been very productive over the last few months, photographically speaking. I have photographed first a Merlin, then a Bald Eagle, and now what looks to be a Rough-legged hawk, all making use of it.

Exchange

I blinked and a Northern Harrier turned into this Coopers Hawk. Sturgeon County. (Well the time difference between the shots was 52 seconds, a long blink).

Perched

A Northern Harrier takes a perch amongst the fall foliage in Sturgeon County.

Grabbing attention

Something grabbed the attention of this Northern Harrier that was hunting along the Sturgeon River.

Ground hunt

A Northern Harrier hunting on the ground in a recently harvested field in Sturgeon County.

Diving in

A hunting Northern Harrier prepares to dive into the reeds on the shoreline of Big Lake. St Albert.

The Three Amigos

Three of the four currently resident Immature Bald Eagles overlooking the duck buffet which is Big Lake. St Albert.

Ground hunt

A Northern Harrier trying its luck from the ground on the flood plain of Big Lake.

Harrier

A Northern Harrier hunting the flood plain of Big Lake in late summer, the fall colours are really starting to show. St Albert.

Into the sun

After a major diversion to avoid power lines this Bald Eagle flew between me and the low morning sun. This produced some nice back lighting but it's head and body were cast into shade and the photo needed heavy post processing to show some details. Big Lake, St Albert.

Obstacle

This Bald Eagle had to make quite a diversion to figure out how to get to where it wanted to go when it almost flew into the power lines crossing the Sturgeon River at the outlet to Big Lake. All was well in the end. I am sure the reflective line markings installed by the utility company helped a lot in this instance.

The perch

A Bald Eagle takes over from where I photographed a Merlin a few days ago. Sturgeon River, St Albert.

Harrier on he lake

After cruising the shoreline a Northern Harrier tries it's luck further out over the lake.