Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

The only way through is to slog through the muck one step at at time.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Dumb motherfuckers cannot understand a consequence that most 4 year olds have fully sorted out.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

T R E 4 5 O N

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

Welcome to day five of every-bit-as-bad-as-you-thought-it-would-be.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / Albatrossity / On The Road – Albatrossity – Winter Comes to Flyover Country

On The Road – Albatrossity – Winter Comes to Flyover Country

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On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.

Submit Your Photos

Well, we got 3 new OTR submissions this week, so we have enough posts for this week.  We start with Albatrossity, of course!  Then TKH, knally, Steve from Mendocino and cope!  Big thanks to those who sent pictures in.

Hoping to see more submissions this weekend!  Still looking for Christmas / holiday pics from when we were little, so please send those in.  I guess we’ll just have one week of that this year instead of two.  (assuming we get some pics!)

I have put up 865 On the Road posts since I started doing this in April of 2020, after we lost Alain.

Albatrossity

Not only are there fewer bird species, fewer colors, and fewer hours of daylight, but the winter season also means (at least for this photographer) that there are some days where going outside doesn’t sound like much fun. Feeder-watching may fill some of that time for a while, and sunny warmer days will still happen. But the slower pace of wintertime here, bird-wise and photographer-wise, might be obvious for a while. Settle in and sit a spell.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 9
Near Manhattan KSNovember 22, 2022

Bald Eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus) are a big draw for birdwatchers here; local birdwatching groups stage “Eagle Days” at many of the local reservoirs in mid-winter. Nevertheless, getting close to one of these magnificent raptors is a challenge. I was lucky to find this one, sleeping off a late breakfast, in a tree limb right over a dirt road. It really didn’t want to move, so I got some closeups. As the kids say, I was today years old when I learned that the white head feathers of a Bald Eagle have a fine black shaft down the center of each one! Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 8
Near Manhattan KSNovember 27, 2022

Late November also brings a smattering of Rough-legged Hawks (Buteo lagopus) to Flyover Country. These birds of the Far North are built for winter, and wind. Hovering daintily over a pasture, this hawk epitomizes winter, at least in my eyes. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 6
Near Manhattan KSNovember 20, 2022

We had a lot of pictures of Red-tailed Hawks last week, so some of you might be bored with them. But this one is special. As you can see, it is banded. This is the third winter that I have seen this bird, and I was there when it was banded in 2021. Welcome back, pal. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 7
Near Manhattan KSNovember 26, 2022

No winter on the prairies would be complete without sighting at least one Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus). And even better is finding one that will pose for you, showing off that cute Death Parrot gaze. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 3
Near Manhattan KSNovember 27, 2022

Not a raptor, but still a predator, this Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) seems to have found a freeze-fried grasshopper. We had several sub-freezing nights prior to this sighting, so this bird had to rely on its very sharp vision to find this immobile critter in the roadside cover. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 4
Near Manhattan KSNovember 26, 2022

Herds of large edible creatures used to roam the prairies, and they still do. This flock of Wild Turkeys (Mealagris gallopavo) numbered at least 80, and it was quite a spectacle to watch them trot off under the watchful eyes of those 5 big toms. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 5
Near Manhattan KSNovember 26, 2022

A few weeks back I shared a picture of a meadowlark with a very subdued color palette, where the bright yellow and black underside was occluded by the grayish tips on those feathers. However, some of our Western Meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) are pretty colorful at this time of year, for reasons unknown to me. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 2
Near Manhattan KSNovember 22, 2022

Feeder birds, as mentioned above, are a welcome respite from winter weather. So here are a few of those. One of the more popular visitors to the seed feeders is the Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis, aka Snowbird). This is a male, of the Slate-colored subspecies, taking off toward a tempting sunflower seed head. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country 1
Near Manhattan KSNovember 23, 2022

Liquid water, not seeds, can attract other more colorful birds to your backyard. Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) are attracted to our yard by the cedar and invasive honeysuckle berry crops, and sometimes come to the water feature for a thirst-quenching sip. It’s nice to see their numbers inching up after they got hammered by the February deep freeze a couple of winters ago. Click here for larger image.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Winter Comes to Flyover Country
Near Manhattan KSNovember 30, 2022

The final bird is a favorite of backyard birdwatchers everywhere. Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) also eat cedar and honeysuckle fruits, and compete with the robins and bluebirds for a spot at the water feature. Click here for larger image.

Reader Interactions

24Comments

  2. 2.

    OzarkHillbilly

    This is the third winter that I have seen this bird, and I was there when it was banded in 2021.

    May s/he live long and prosper. Thanx for the pics.

  5. 5.

    knally

    I’ve played a board game called Wingspan recently, and it’s a delight to see real pictures of the birds from the game – also slightly bemusing like seeing someone famous in the street.

  6. 6.

    pieceofpeace

    I swear I’ve met people with that fierce, intense, present look of the Bald Eagle and both species bring me to a standstill.

    Your pictures of birds is endlessly interesting, calming to see these beauties of the skies, and brings to me a knowing that overall I’d rather look and hear them that gaze into a pile of diamonds.

    You are appreciated for finding and sharing these photos.

  7. 7.

    J R in WV

    We used to live in an old jenny lind style 2 up and 2 down farmhouse built in the last 1890s, with a really big cedar tree outside the kitchen slider door. One day when we came down to drink coffee and hot tea, when we looked out at the cedar tree we thought we were hallucinating, as the tree was moving.

    Not really, it was covered by a huge flock of cedar waxwings, working it over for all the berries they could choke down. Was back in the 1980s I think, crawling with birbs. I do love me some birbs!!

    Thanks for the great pictures!

  10. 10.

    mvr

    These are all lovely.  I’m always happy when the juncos return for the winter.  Was just looking at some below the feeders in our yard.

    Also think that rough legged hawk is striking.

    Thanks!

  11. 11.

    Wag

    Your action shot

    of the Junco doing the Safety Dance is amazing.

    We can dance if we want toWe can leave your friends behind’Cause your friends don’t danceAnd if they don’t danceWell, they’re no friends of mine

  12. 12.

    Chat Noir

    Someone at Balloon Juice linked to the Decorah Bald Eagle cam years ago. I still go there every year to watch the mama eagle lay her eggs and raise the babies with papa eagle. Fascinating!

    Great pictures, as always, Albatrossity!

  13. 13.

    Princess Leia

    I just love, love, love meadowlarks. They make my heart sing- such a great shot!!!! And that junco- took my breath away. thanks, as always, for the Monday delight!!

  14. 14.

    sab

    That is very cool about bald eagle feathers.

    I have never seen an actual bluebird in real life.

    Wild turkeys terrify me. I have run across a few in suburban parking lots and they are very big and often mean.

  15. 15.

    Albatrossity

    Thanks to WaterGirl for all 865 OTR posts she has coordinated, tracking them scheduling them, commenting on them, and asking jackals to get more into the pipeline! I agree, I don’t want this feature to go away. I have learned so much from the pictures and captions, and I’d love to continue doing that.

    865. Wow!

  16. 16.

    JanieM

    …the winter season also means … that there are some days where going outside doesn’t sound like much fun.

    Ain’t that the truth!

    Thanks to WaterGirl for all 865 OTR posts she has coordinated, tracking them scheduling them, commenting on them, and asking jackals to get more into the pipeline! I agree, I don’t want this feature to go away. I have learned so much from the pictures and captions, and I’d love to continue doing that.

    Echoing you here, as well. Plus, as always, thanks for another Monday morning of bird pictures and education. :-)

  18. 18.

    stinger

    Hello (again), Bandy!  That Junco shot is really fabulous. I love meadowlarks and turkeys and cedar waxwings and bluebirds. And “cute Death Parrot gaze” makes me laugh! Thank you, Albatrossity — you make Mondays better!

  19. 19.

    munira

    @Albatrossity: Yes a big thanks to Watergirl. I love this feature, too. I’m trying to get more posts together but I’m so busy. Will have one after the holidays for sure.

  20. 20.

    Miss Bianca

    Cedar waxwings! For some reason, this is the bird that sticks with me from elementary school birb-identifying sessions. Have been lucky enough to see a few in the wild.

    Also, Death Parrot is my new band name.

  21. 21.

    BigJimSlade

    865 – wow! That may be more than that first bald eagle has feathers on its head.  Thanks Watergirl and Albatrossity!

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