Big Morning at the Farm Ponds

Trip to the farm ponds this morning.  We've not been out there much since getting our own farm.  It turned out to be a very good trip!

First, an immature hawk species.  I cannot tell the immature hawks apart.  This was either a red-tail or a red-shouldered.

And then this was at the edge of the ponds.  Looks like the heron is keeping guard over the mallards.

Buffleheads (female) on the lower pond.  One male was with several females, but he's not in this picture.

Then - we saw a large bird circling fairly far away, decided it was a vulture - until we spotted the white tail and head.  A mature bald eagle!!!  It decided to fly to a spot closer to us.  Still not great pics, but definitely enough to see what it was.

 Finally - something was in the snag at the top of a dead tree, where we usually say "Is that something?" and it turns out just to be the top of the snag.  Well, this time it was something.  A peregrine falcon.  A first for both of us.  The clincher was when it flew to get a dove for lunch.  Hugely powerful wingbeats, and FAST.  Classic for a peregrine.  This was also larger than a merlin, and much larger than a kestrel.  And the cheek patch fits a peregrine.  Great way to end the trip!