Lower Klamath NWR at Sunset

The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge is mostly in California along the border with Oregon. The closest city is Klamath Falls in Oregon. There is also an Upper Klamath NWR entirely in Oregon. As a wildlife photographer you try to get as much daylight as you can. This is advantageous because many animals are seen more in the early morning and late afternoon. But it also means you get to see a great many sunrises and sunsets. But, when you have been out for 14 or 16 hours, it's easy to drive right by a sunset on your way to a hot bath and a hot meal. Usually when I do this I kick myself later. What would five more minutes have cost. So, at least this time I stopped.

Winter at Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Since it is still winter in most places, I thought I would share a winter photo from Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge along the Oregon - California border. While not a great photo, it tells a story. The Lower Klamath gets over a hundred thousand water birds for the winter: ducks, geese, swans, etc. Most of these birds fly great distances to get there. The result, they are tired upon arrival -- and, easy pickin's. In the foreground are Tundra Swans, that literally come from the Northern Alaska tundra, a distance of some 3,000 miles. In the background is the "mafia," oops, sorry eight or so Bald Eagles.  That day I probably saw over 100 eagles. The Bald Eagles weren't there for their "winter migration." They were there for dinner. There was always a swan that was the slowest and/or the tiredest who became a meal for a half dozen Bald Eagles. If you get a chance the Lower Klamath is a wonderful winter birding spot. It's about 70 miles east of Ashland, Oregon (on Interstate 5). And, well worth the trip.