Post by Gord on Dec 1, 2007 16:10:53 GMT -8
A chilly afternoon visit did have some interesting sights. Among the Cackling and Canada Geese were a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese. The Horned Grebe was still here as well. Usually they don't seem to hang around into the winter!
Walking in the area I saw the Rusty Blackbirds earlier in the year I saw a good flock of Robins feeding on hawthorn berries. I couldnt find any rare thrush among them. A little further along I heard the sounds of a small bird being caught. One of nature's sounds that are sad but sadly necessary.
As I came closer, sure enough, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk flew up with prey in his/her talons. Seconds later however, a adult Red-tailed Hawk blazed in from somewhere above. It must have been attracted by the little bird's sound. I thought it was after the Sharp-shinned as it went on a short but spirited chase through the lower stories. After a few seconds, the little hawk dropped its prize. The Red-tail promptly stopped chasing and plunged down to retrieve the small bird from where it fell. The Sharp-shinned landed near by, and looked quite bitter at losing its meal. The Red-tailed Hawk apparently had no qualms about being a bully and went off to have his somewhat ill gotten in private. This was the act of piracy which is most common among the gulls, especially jaegers who are professionals at stealing other birds' food. I never did ID the small bird the hawk caught but it was brown but looked a bit larger than a Song Sparrow. There are lots of Fox Sparrows in the area so could have been one of them.
Speaking of Fox Sparrows, there is one with a little bit of white feathers on its back and head. I saw it last year as well!
On the way out, a Ruffed Grouse was at the edge of the road (sorry Dave) in a hawthorn tree eating the berries. I got a picture and even a weak video of him scrambling around in the tree.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCRl9Hc2rSw
Walking in the area I saw the Rusty Blackbirds earlier in the year I saw a good flock of Robins feeding on hawthorn berries. I couldnt find any rare thrush among them. A little further along I heard the sounds of a small bird being caught. One of nature's sounds that are sad but sadly necessary.
As I came closer, sure enough, a juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk flew up with prey in his/her talons. Seconds later however, a adult Red-tailed Hawk blazed in from somewhere above. It must have been attracted by the little bird's sound. I thought it was after the Sharp-shinned as it went on a short but spirited chase through the lower stories. After a few seconds, the little hawk dropped its prize. The Red-tail promptly stopped chasing and plunged down to retrieve the small bird from where it fell. The Sharp-shinned landed near by, and looked quite bitter at losing its meal. The Red-tailed Hawk apparently had no qualms about being a bully and went off to have his somewhat ill gotten in private. This was the act of piracy which is most common among the gulls, especially jaegers who are professionals at stealing other birds' food. I never did ID the small bird the hawk caught but it was brown but looked a bit larger than a Song Sparrow. There are lots of Fox Sparrows in the area so could have been one of them.Speaking of Fox Sparrows, there is one with a little bit of white feathers on its back and head. I saw it last year as well!
On the way out, a Ruffed Grouse was at the edge of the road (sorry Dave) in a hawthorn tree eating the berries. I got a picture and even a weak video of him scrambling around in the tree.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCRl9Hc2rSw
