Despite the rain and drizzle Finley NWR offered up some treats today. Feeding
on the flowering shrubs at the refuge offices then alighting on a limb over me
was a male Rufous Hummingbird looking quite proud. From the lot a single Turkey
Vulture was soaring about but that was no surprise as I had seen two the
previous week. Thirty three elk were browsing on freshly sprouted grass in the
meadow area just East of the offices. A lone light phase Rough Legged Hawk
stood at sentry near the raised platform viewing area on the way out. Bruce Rd
was rather barren though the now ubiquitous Treeswallows were busy... Bald
Eagles were sparsely represented and not looking to be hunting avidly. On
Macfarland I encountered two Peregrine Falcons hunting as well as sparring
briefly over a field. One was noticeably larger than the other; I suspect a
male and a female.... The larger one was kind enough to land in a tree where
the short stretch of pavement meets gravel. A second light phase Rough Legegged
Hawk was further down Macfarland; I wonder if it the same animal I see there
that seems to be habitual. All in all worth the 100 mile drive :)