Rough-legged Hawks

I've been mentioning these hawks and thought a close-up picture of one would be useful to those that haven't seen one (and those that just love seeing them).  So here you go.





The initial attraction for me in the refuge was the wildlife, and that is still a compelling draw.  Watching over the year and seeing the changes in types of birds, changes in the birds themselves (look at the difference between the breeding and non-breeding American Avocets, for example), and watching the interactions between the birds themselves is fascinating.  I've not yet seen a coyote, altho there is plenty of scat.  Persistence!!
Lately, I've been drawn more and more to the grasses and natural compositions of landscapes.  Especially in the fall, with the seeds ready to fly away, the grasses present another world.  Here's one of those worlds.