Sunday, September 11, 2016

BIRDS


Hawks are coming to are area.  I have a lot of feeders so I have a lot of birds - cardinals, bluejays, nuthatches, goldfinches, house finches, chicadees, mourning doves, etc.  It's a buffet for a strong predator.  Everyone has to eat.  

Aren't they gorgeous creatures?

This Cooper's Hawk was taking a cooling dip in the water standing on the swimming pool cover (we put mosquito dunks in there so the neighbors don't burn us at the stake about breeding mosquitoes; tablets tossed in once a month gets rid of the larvae).  It is being drained today since we are going to have more rain this evening.  Anyway...



When I glance outside and see no birds at the feeders, or hear the bluejays squawking, I know a hawk is close by.  This one was right on the deck railing, turning his/her head to stare at me when I looked out.  Big Red-shouldered hawk. 

 Notice the different back feather patterns and the difference in the color of the eyes to help distinguish between the hawks that come to our area = Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered, Cooper's, etc.






Going from big to small...

We have a family (or two) of hummingbirds.  I've seen two males, one (or two) females, and a couple of smaller young ones, all coming and feeding at the two sugar water feeders I've put out.  Set out two if you see them fighting over a single feeder and make sure the second feeder is out of sight of the first = on the opposite side of the deck = cuts down on the territorial behavior and everyone gets to eat.  

6 comments:

Sadami said...

Yey, Rhonda, I love your photos of birds! Cheers, Sadami

http://carolking.wordpress.com said...

Beautiful pictures of the birds. I love seeing both hummingbirds and hawks. We can't have bird feeders because of the black bears. Bird feeders = bear feeders.

Jennifer Rose said...

i am so jealous you get them visiting :) they are such great looking birds

Deborah Nolan said...

Amazing shots of these lovely birds. What a treat to capture them so well on film. So glad you shared Rhonda. Have a great day. Hugs!

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Wow! It's a lovely variety of visitors that you get. I find it eerie how quiet it gets when a predator is around it's very loaded and noticeable silence.

Best wishes and happy bird spotting!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Sadami :) Glad you enjoy the feathered friends :)

Carol, we just have raccoons - not sure how I'd deal with the problem of black bears!!!

Jennifer Rose, I am honored each time I see one out there, so regal and strong!

Thanks, Debbie, glad you enjoyed the photos.

Lisa, yes, you can tell when one is around - no birds at the feeders, or in the trees, no chipping or chirping...just silence as if they are all holding their breath waiting...