Northern Harrier over Redtail Lake

Redtail Lake is next to the Columbia River just to the north of the levee. It is known to have a wide variety of ducks, geese, Virginia Rails, and American Bitterns. Photographers can position theirselves on its bridge to shoot Bald Eagles, Harriers, Peregrine Falcons, Kestrels, Merlins and occasional Short-eared Owls that frequent the area.

Bald Eagle (juvenile) over Redtail Lake

This juvenile flew low across the lake just minutes before the sunset. I had high hopes for the higher cloud formations, but they fizzled and all the color was projected onto the lower ones. Catching the ray strands made up for the under-performance of the clouds. The two layers were photographed within 3 minutes of each other from the same vantage point.

Golden Eagle

Eagle banks as it scans a Cascade basalt canyon above Catherine Creek near Lyle, WA.

Northern Harrier

Harriers of Steigerwald Lake NWR will catch thermals and ride them up between photographers and Mount Hood