Eastern Kingbird

On 30 May 2016, I decided that for once, I would go out in an evening to see if I could find a Great Gray Owl, SW of the city. Unfortunately, heavy black clouds were already starting to build, with patches of blue sky still showing. Once I hit the main highway, the rain started and continued till I got back home. I was determined to go and check out the various places where I had seen these owls just a few years ago. The two separate owls I found were not far from previous sightings - one along the main road and the other was flying over a distant field. Both were focused on hunting.

Feeling so happy after seeing the first owl, I decided to drive a second time along a different area, just to check one last time before going home. That's when I noticed a large bird way off in the distance, flying over a field. I was amazed when it flew to a tree within camera reach and then even more surprised when it flew to a fairly close fence post. The owls looked rather wet and a little wind-blown in most of my photos, but, needless to say, I went home feeling thrilled to bits. I don't remember ever seeing an owl shake the rain off its feathers just like a dog shakes off water.

While I was in the area, I checked for the usual birds - Mountain Bluebirds, Snipe, Red-winged Blackbirds, etc.. I was really happy when I saw this Eastern Kingbird perched on a fence post.

"With dark gray upperparts and a neat white tip to the tail, the Eastern Kingbird looks like it’s wearing a business suit. And this big-headed, broad-shouldered bird does mean business—just watch one harassing crows, Red-tailed Hawks, Great Blue Herons, and other birds that pass over its territory. Eastern Kingbirds often perch on wires in open areas and either sally out for flying insects or flutter slowly over the tops of grasses. They spend winters in South American forests, where they eat mainly fruit." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/eastern_kingbird/id