It's glorious out this morning. We started the day with the lightest of snow flurries, and they have passed through leaving us with mostly clear sky and almost blinding light. It's quite a change from the gray we've had.
There are icicles hanging from the gutter outside the window of my office, and they are dripping at a fast pace. The sun on the dark shingles must be melting the snow cover on the roof.
This morning I was getting ready to feed the birds, and looked out the window. What birds? Just a few moments earlier the feeders had been busy, and now there wasn't a bird in sight. Of course, that means there's a hawk nearby. The hawks are having the same problem finding food that plagues the little birds. The chipmunks and voles and mice must all be hibernating.
The hawk had landed in a tree about thirty feet from the feeder. He was absolutely still, and if you looked from the wrong angle, he really blended into his surroundings. But, the smaller birds weren't conned. They all left for safer places. As I walked out the door to fill the feeders, the hawk took off, flying south through the grove. He's a beauty, but I'm glad he didn't get any of our little friends.
We have blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves, Eastern starlings, juncos, nuthatches, chicadees, finches, sparrows, downy, hairy and red-breasted woodpeckers, fox and gray squirrels, rabbits, a possum and deer, that we know of, and probably more who come to our feeders this time of the year. I hope Mr. Hawk continues to find his dinners elsewhere.
Comments (5)
Care to be more specific on the kind of nuthatches, finches, and sparrows that you get?
Posted by Cop Car | February 10, 2004 9:03 PM
Posted on February 10, 2004 21:03
Careful Cop Car, they'll all have names too...
Posted by Legomen | February 11, 2004 4:03 AM
Posted on February 11, 2004 04:03
Pics of the birds would be nice Buffy.....hint! ;-)
Posted by Dr. D. | February 11, 2004 8:01 AM
Posted on February 11, 2004 08:01
Let's see...there's Bob, and Harry, and Guido....no....that's not Guido; I didn't put out any semolina.
Right! Well...Cop Car, I have to do some brushing up. I didn't know there are different types of nuthatches. And other than a goldfinch, the only finch I can identify is the housefinch that is invasive in this area. They are the ones that are dusted with red over their heads and shoulders.
Doc....I'll have to see if I can get my stepson to get a picture of feeding time. The birds flit around so much establishing their pecking order at the feeders that they may just be a blur.
Posted by Buffy | February 11, 2004 8:38 AM
Posted on February 11, 2004 08:38
Good idea, Doc. I like hawks, Buffy. Get a picture of the hawk. Also, leave out a piece of meat or something for him, then maybe he'll pass up all the other birds and other animals you hope he doesn't get.
Posted by Mad Bull | February 16, 2004 7:22 PM
Posted on February 16, 2004 19:22