Northern Harrier

Mesilla New Mexico USA

 

 

The usual view of the Northern Harrier is a quick glimpse showing the characteristic V shaped wings as it is coursing the ground, or performing a sudden twisting and turning flight  in pursuit of  its prey. On occasion I can get close enough to get a good shot (as in the above top plate) caught in brilliant New Mexican light.        

 

 

The winter is rapidly heading towards Spring with daily highs back into the seventies here in Mesilla New Mexico. Our winter resident raptor at the State Park, the Northern Harrier, is still with us, as indeed are many other winter visitors.There are large gatherings of Mallard (600+) now along the Rio Grande, some Gadwall and Northern Pintail and even a few Green-winged Teal with the occasional Northern Shoveler. The Loggerhead Shrike can still be seen on its prominent position on the top of bushes.  

Northern Harrier with White-winged Dove,

its prey caught in flight this morning 2/16/2016. This was very unusual to observe the dove circled above the river. I was pondering its motive (was it a display flight or was it simply looking for a suitable place to land?) when from nowhere came the Harrier.  

 

 

Gambel's Quail in New Mexico

As if to illustrate the point that Spring is on its way or even has arrived here in the Southwest, I discovered a clutch of Quail eggs, photographed this morning or at least the start of a clutch...  In addition there are many singing birds this morning.

Other indicators of Spring today are a a group of Rough-winged Swallow.
Mother Nature goes on, showing us once again it has its own calendar.