Swainson's Hawks

This pair of Swainson's Hawks were perched and screeching for about 20 minutes; according to a colleague of mine, that indicates they had an eyas or fledging on the ground. Swainson's Hawks are also known as Grasshopper Hawks or Locust Hawks because their diet is not limited to small rodents but includes grasshoppers and dragonflies; this could would explain why they stayed for about a week, there is a large dragonfly population across the road from where they roosted.
The dark coloring of the male is unusual when compared with the majority of Swainson's Hawks.

Hiking

My wife and I went hiking yesterday, we started at the Kiwanis Park in Pleasant Grove.
The trail was more challenging than I remembered but worth the exertion. There were a few close calls involving a child and the river but we arrived at the waterfall intact.

I enjoy hiking because you see places where I would not normally go. Hiking reminds me why I take photographs, to show people how something as common as a leaf can be unique. For instance rain, everyone sees the rain and the mud but a closer inspection reveals an entirely different experience. While hiking I see new landscapes or views I've see before but have changed. Every moment is unique, I just try to capture the best ones.

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Enjoy!