Some dramatic photos from the other day when a #merlin showed up and the neighborhood Steller's Jays showed up in force to mob them! It was a good 45 min back and forth with the Merlin trying to find opportunities for a quick meal and the Jays not standing for it. Was pretty evenly matched until a Crow or two showed up and the Merlin took off. Urban wildlife is wild! #seattle #seattlewildlife #urbanraptors #stellersjay #backyardbirding

It's not quite spring but don't tell the Merlins in North #Seattle that! This pair made quite the spectacle yesterday as the (presumed, I'm a security nerd not an ornithologist!) male called loudly to his partner who arrived not too long after. They didn't stay long as the local murder and resident red-tailed made themselves known and began protecting their airspace.

#seattlewildlife #urbanraptors #merlin #pnwbirding #birding #birds #birdofprey

Wow, even MORE snow this morning! The backyard troopers aren't letting it slow them down at all though! Seeing all these vibrant colors flittering across the white landscape is such a treasure and rarity here in the emerald city. #Seattle #pnwbirds #pnwbirding #seattlewildlife #birds #birding #snow #snowbirds #wildlifephotography #northernflicker #downywoodpecker #bewickswren #townsendswarbler #redbreastednuthatch

Woke up this morning to a wonderful dash of snow covering the yard! It didn't stop these three morning regulars from stopping by for some suet! The Townsend's Warbler and Bewick's Wren are both pretty chummy with each other and I see them together quite often. The Song Sparrow in the third pic is a bit of a bully, the wren always takes off when they come by but the warbler stands their ground even though it sometimes means taking a few feathers to the face haha #seattle #seattlewildlife #birds #birding #pnwbirds #snowbirds

This should be my final album in the Favorite Shots of 2024 collection! 2024 was a magical year for me, rediscovering my love of photography and opening my heart to my feathery neighbors and reconnecting with the side of myself that wants to create and revel in the wonders of our world.

Caspian Terns might be my most favorite lifer to encounter last year. Hearing their raspy calls and watching them dive for a meal with the Ospreys and Kingfishers at Dumas Bay was truly a spectacle and joy. There's a few Great Blue Heron pictures in the mix as well, it was a delight to be so close to these gorgeous derp-sticks and they make for fantastic subjects in photos haha.

#Seattle #seattlewildlife #wildlifephotography #caspiantern #greatblueheron #birding #birds #birdwatching #pnwbirds #pnwbirding

Oh how I adore woodpeckers! 2024 brought me some great encounters with all of PNWs finest trunk crawlers. I love the Pileated and Downy woodpeckers quite a lot but have so many frequent Flicker and Hairy visitors to my yard. #Seattle #seattlewildlife #woodpecker #pileatedwoodpecker #northernflicker #downywoodpecker #hairywoodpecker #pnwbirding #birding #birds #wildlifephotography

The smallest birbs! Bushtits, Hummingbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Golden-crowned Kinglets! Some of the more challenging subjects from last year, these little ones gave me quite the workout and crash course in photography and I'm so proud of how some of these turned out!

Have about 3 more posts worth of my Favorite 2024 Photos to go and then I'll start posting some newer pics!

#seattle #seattlewildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #birding #hummingbirds #bushtits #redbreastednuthatch #goldencrownedkinglet #kinglet

Getting close to wrapping up these Favorites of 2024, will have some new stuff to post sometime soon! Today, Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos, the two most common birbs hanging around my backyard. I honestly cannot wait to see all the new babies in Spring/Summer again!

#seattle #backyardbirding #wildlifephotography #seattlewildlife #chickadees #darkeyedjunco #blackcappedchickadee #chestnutbackedchickadee #birds #birding

More of my favorite shots from 2024, the final BoP album! Owls, osprey and red-tailed hawks with a special bonus turkey vulture!

#seattle #wildlifephotography #birds #urbanraptors #owls #hawks #osprey #seattlewildlife #shortearedowl #redtailedhawk #greathornedowl

They might be small, but they are mighty! Here are my favorite shots of 2024, Smol BoP edition! Merlins, Kestrels, and a bonus Sharp-shinned hawk!

Yes, I know, I could've dropped the sharpie and made this all falcons/murder-parrots... But with a sharpie... Close enough lol

#Seattlewildlife #seattle #urbanraptors #birds #americankestrel #merlin #birdsofprey