Lookout! Landing!

Birds

Fiery-billed Aracari.
A type of toucan only found in Costa Rica’s southern lowlands on the Pacific coast and in the adjacent area of Panama.
Fiery-billed Aracari.
A type of toucan only found in Costa Rica’s southern lowlands on the Pacific coast and in the adjacent area of Panama.

Northern Harrier, male.
Northern Harriers hunt differently than most other hawks. Instead of flying up high, they cruise just above the vegetation, often 20 feet or less off the ground. Both the male and female have distinctive white rumps that help identify them as Northern Harriers. Mature males are mostly light colored gray, and the females remain a beautiful combination of browns and reds. Whidbey Island, Washington.
Northern Harrier, female.
Northern Harriers hunt differently than most other hawks. Instead of flying up high, they cruise just above the vegetation, often 20 feet or less off the ground. Both the male and female have distinctive white rumps that help identify them as Northern Harriers. Mature males are mostly light colored gray, and the females remain a beautiful combination of browns and reds. Whidbey Island, Washington.
Look out, landing!
Pigeon Guillemots come in for landing on an early morning at Fort Worden, Puget Sound, Washington. I always get a chuckle when I see them landing on the water. Their wings are small compared to how heavy they are, and they have to fly fast to stay airborn. They put on the brakes to slow down to land, and always end it with a big belly flop. This image was awarded 2nd place in the birds and mammals category in the "Salish Sea in Focus” photo contest sponsored by the SeaDoc Society.

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