This female northern harrier uses her prominently disked face, like that of an owl, to help her hear and hunt voles and mice in the marsh.
neighdoctor
Authortwisting
northern harrier hawk in a twisting dive seeking prey in the half-dried marsh
going up
Pair of mallards leaving the back swamp at Yates Mill Pond.
gliding rocker
gliding rocker
three abreast
found by students
brought to rest
where ecology is taught
shadowing trees
stir my childhood memories
lazy reading days
stretched across scratchy pillows
one toe dangling pushing
creaking metal to and fro
how savory wafting fragrance
grandma’s biscuits and honeysuckle
still my mouth waters so
gliding rocker
brings memories decades old
sparkles
grass foxtails and dew on the riverbank
stripes
This small boldly marked bird is a black-and-white warbler – my first ever sighting of one.
If my friend had not shown it to me I would have missed it – even with it’s bright markings.
It is a busy bird and likes to stay in the shadows.
doc ellen's journey 