Hi Tweeters;
Unlike yesterday the heart-stopping was caused by something I didn't
see. I was on top of a ridge when I saw a Red-tailed hawk flying
overhead toward me carrying a stick in it's talons. So I stopped and
got my camera ready to capture him in flight. Just as I was taking the
photo I heard a loud rattle in front of me about two feet from my
knees. Naturally the camera jumped and blurred the photo. Without
thinking I aimed the camera at the rattlesnake and got a close-up of
his mid-section! Fortunately he wasn't coiled and crept away as fast as
he could. The reason I didn't see him is he was on top of a rock
beneath the lower limbs of a tree. So be careful birders the
rattlesnakes are out.
Joy Stickney-Markgraf
Near White Salmon, WA
email: joymarkgraf at gorge.net