mthew

Mallards are one of our biggest ducks. Occasionally, Sylvan Water gets some other waterfowl. Behold the many manifestations of a male Hooded Merganser:

One bird you are guaranteed to run across, even this winter, is the Northern Mockingbird. They’ll be giving you the eye.

A close view and a sunny day, that’s what makes for the best urban raptor-viewing.

Please! As I noted yesterday, they have been scant this season. This Red-breasted Nuthatch, barely seen, was the first I’d heard in months. The N. Mockingbirds make sure you see them, at least.

The birds in my patch are few and far between this winter. There are very small numbers even of Juncos and White-throated Sparrows, a typical winter’s mob. The strident calls of Blue Jays are rare. When I heard a nuthatch the other day, I realized it was the first in several months.

The local Great Horned Owls weren’t in their usual perching tree. (One at least was in the nest tree.) So I walked under the perching tree, and saw plenty of evidence of fine owl dining.

The Cooper’s pictured with yesterday’s feisty House Finch had already put up with a reception committee of Monk Parakeets: After loudly berating the predator, the flock returned to Green-Wood’s Neo-Gothic pile of a gatehouse. The Coop, meanwhile, stuck around for at least 45 minutes, which is a long time in Accipiter time.

A House Finch flew into this linden… There were already some Mourning Doves in the tree. (The finch is in the top left corner; you can expand these photos by clicking on them.) And, oh yes, over there on the right… A male American Kestrel. Which of course reminded me of a couple weeks ago…