[Turtle]

Originally Posted by (((tartanism)))

went hiking up in the Castle Rock State Park (CA), here is what i saw:
Common Raven
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Stellar's Jay
American Coot
Double Crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Black Phoebe
Buffel Head (duck)
American Wigdeon (duck)
American Crow
Mallard

of course, this is with the helpful eyes of my forementioned grandfather.

happy birding!

___Superb Tartan; superb.

Originally Posted by Cedars

We had our first big snow of the season this last week.

___What a coinkydink Cedars; we just now are having our first Winter storm. On the upper deck feeder, half a dozen or so House Finches (Finchi? ) & the Chickadees. At the feeders below deck Chickadees & Flickers. On the ground under deck, Juncos, Towhees, Sparrows, & Squirrels.
___The temp is now 26 F, winds steady at 28 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH & 1/4 " of accumulated sleet & snow. I went out & broke the ice out of my gold-pan bird-bath, put it on the ground with a large rock in it, & filled it with hot water. It is dusk now & the birds have returned to other shelter, but they feasted on the cup of seed round the warm water while the light lasted.
___The first wave of the storm is nearly spent, but the next is coming by morning. I'll be up early to refresh the water & feed.
___Thank you Cedars especially for your commentary on the Cardinals. I see them vicariously through you.

[Cedars]

(((tartanism))) Sounds like a good day of birding! Enjoy your grandfather as much as possible. Sounds like he is very good at spotting and identifying the birds.

Turtle I had a lone male Purple Finch at the feeder yesterday. I havent seen him again today. Yesterday afternoon the pair of Pleated Woodpeckers were together eating the suet. I do enjoy seeing that they made it thru another summer.

I did see the Sharp-shinned hawk this afternoon. I am more convinced now that my guess on the demise of the Mourning Dove was accurate. The hawk hung around for about an hour, even staying in the tree when I went out to check the mail and toss more seed on the ground. I saw the hawk drop down over the snow area I had shoveled. I think the bird was trying to flush out a mouse or shrew. Too no avail. The Chickadees were hiding under my truck. About 10 of them flew out as I passed by.

The feeder remained empty of birds until about 5 minutes after I saw the hawk fly towards the deeper woods. Then the birds came back in numbers.

[Racoon]

As I was out to fetch my mountain bike for a ride early in the morning I encountered a flock of Robins on the ground "grubbing" for insects!
It seems Robins like to group together.
" Birds of a feather flock together "
They are a nice bird
" Rockin' Robin Tweet Tweet, Rockin Robin, Tweetle eett... )

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Cedars

...
Turtle
I did see the Sharp-shinned hawk this afternoon. I am more convinced now that my guess on the demise of the Mourning Dove was accurate. ...

___I haven't watched the birds steadily for a while, but I got to it today for several hours. One of the Mourning Doves showed up on the ground to feed, which surprised me as I hadn't seen either of them in weeks. Now with the leaves fallen & a clear view I may yet have a hawk or owl hunt my slope.

Originally Posted by Racoon

As I was out to fetch my mountain bike for a ride early in the morning I encountered a flock of Robins on the ground "grubbing" for insects!

___I haven't seen a Robin here in quite a while, although they may have moved to the front yard to feed in the grass where it is warmer for worms and insects.

[Cedars]

The snow has been melting here the last few days. Bad news for the animals such as the owls who need to be able to bust thru the snow to catch their mice. Once we freeze up again they will be in trouble.

The spots in my yard where I shoveled have cleared now to the green below. This will help them to find mice and shrews later in the year. But it wont be enough.

Right now the sharp shinned hawk is back, sitting high in the oak over the feeding area. So now there is only the hawk in my yard. I do enjoy that this bird has learned there is food here. I feel that once you begin to attract the predators, you have achieved a wholeness with nature.

Back to the melting snow. I had to get up on the roof yesterday to shovel the edges to make sure I dont get ice dams. As I brought the ladder around I saw many feathers hanging over the edge of the roof. I got up there to shovel and I found the mourning dove (what was left). It was the hawk that had taken the bird for sure. What a great perch for a hawk to feed in safety!!

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Cedars

Right now the sharp shinned hawk is back, sitting high in the oak over the feeding area. ... I feel that once you begin to attract the predators, you have achieved a wholeness with nature.

___You take care up on that roof Cedars! Just a bit ago my housemate Ace called me hurriedly to his room to see some new birds gathered at his feeders on the upper deck. We have tentatively identified them as Bushtits, but we still have to get a good photo. Rather small birds in a flock of about 12 to 15 & feeding with Juncos & Chickadees.
___I told Ace about your Sharp Shinned Hawk & he says he has seen two hawks sitting in our Oaks this past week. Besides the birds on my slope I have mice, Western Gray Squirrels, and Least Chipmunks for the raptors to eat.
___Off to try for a photograph!

[Turtle]

___No photos of the Bushtits yet; they may have just stopped on their way South.
___I checked my rain guage today & on the slope in the past two days 2.1" of rain fell. I did a little figuring yesterday & found that on average a minimum of fifty individual birds of at least ten species visit our feeders every day. I love my avian neighbors!

[Racoon]

As Iwas cruising down the Discovery trail today, in an effort to dodge traffic congestion on my mtn. bike, I rode upon a lone Great Blue Heron!
I had startled it and it took its flight path right in front of me!
It had a tremendous wing span in conjuction with its long legs.
Quite majestic it indeed was.

[Tarantism]

the otehr day i was in the rain at a lake in the same area that is forementioned on my hike, and i saw a few more snowy eagrets sitting in the rain. the funny thing is, no ducks were on the lake, as they usually are. where do they go in the rain?

[Drip Curl Magic]

I would guess that they take cover under some brush or something.

But it's surprising that a bird as well acclimated to water as a duck would feel the need to hide during rain.