Cooper's Hawk

A cool wet, rainy day and the Cooper's Hawk made an appearance several times.  Each time the birds around the feeder would scatter.  After surveying the area closely, the hawk finally made a dive into the bushes.  I watched from the window for at least 10 minutes and never saw the hawk come back up so I can only guess some poor bird fell victim.

Dinner for the Cooper's Hawk

It has been a very dreary, misty type of day but at least not too terribly cold.

 Late this afternoon I looked out the window just in time to see the Cooper's Hawk come and sit on top of the bird feeder.  I went quickly for the camera but by the time I got back, it had swooped down, gotten a bird and flew to a nearby tree.

I stepped out of the house to try for a shot.  It was not until I looked at the photo that I realized when it swooped down it had caught a bird.  Despite my best efforts to provide cover at the bird feeder area, this hawk has learned it is a good area for birds.

I always feel bad about it but realize that is just the cycle of life in nature.

Cooper's Hawk

Yesterday my friend and I watched as a hawk chased a Kingfisher, not just once, but twice.  We could not believe what we were seeing.  It almost appeared as if the Kingfisher was trying to engage the hawk in a game of chase.

This morning, we went early hoping to catch eagles.  Yes, we saw several but overcast skies made for difficult shooting.  We had just walked back up to the berm that extends beyond the dam when in flies the same hawk and sat in a nearby tree.  We were both thrilled at the sighting and could not believe it came in so close to us.

Busy Bird Week

Worm-eating Warbler

It has been a fairly busy week trying to get the kitchen ready for the new flooring to go down.  I am so ready to wrap up all the house projects and the end is in sight now.  The new flooring in the kitchen and laundry room are the last two big projects.

With the exception of a couple of days of sunshine, gray skies seem to be the rule.  Very disappointing with the number of birds coming through and the number of missed or poor shots due to low light.

Northern parula

I was so disappointed on Tuesday when I kept missing shots of a Hooded Warbler that dropped by several times.  Late this afternoon (almost 1730), I happened to walk by the kitchen window and saw an unfamiliar bird.  I have been keeping the camera on the kitchen cabinet to try and catch things coming through.  I quickly grabbed a couple of shots before it flew off.  What a thrill!  A Worm-eating Warbler.  This is the first one I have ever seen here at the house.

Just a few minutes before it came by, I had just spotted a Northern Parula stopping by to get some water.

female Summer Tanager

Earlier a female Summer Tanager dropped by for a bath but I believe this is a younger bird than the other female Tanager that has been coming by every afternoon.  The look was completely different than the older bird.

Eastern Wood Peewee

I have been hearing an Eastern Wood Peewee over the last several days and finally this afternoon with all the bird activity, it could not resist coming in for a look.










The American Redstarts have been great for the last two weeks.  The bright orange of the male's catches your eye so quickly.  I have really enjoyed seeing them.

Cooper's Hawk

Earlier in the week the Cooper's Hawk showed back up.  It has been hanging around the yard trying to find food.  The birds have been a bit spooky because the hawk has been very active.

Wild and Windy Day

I went out for a little while this morning before the wind picked up too much.  Winds have been building from the northwest all afternoon 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph and feels like they are coming off ice.

I went out to watch the otters for a bit this morning.  They really put on a show.  I try to enjoy them while they are here as their visit is all to brief.  They swirled and played in the water, running up on the banks and sliding back in the water.  It was like watching children at play.




I was thrilled to see a Wood Duck on the pond this morning.  It has been a disappointing winter without them.  Hopefully additional will come in for nesting.  Not many brave souls out in the cold and wind this morning and the creatures responded to the quite by coming close in.









A usual visitor, the Great Blue Heron was not so skittish this morning.




The Cooper's Hawk sat nearby intently watching for an opportunistic meal.  All in all despite the weather, it was a really good morning.

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