Friday October 10, 2008
Red-tailed Hawk
Still very windy. The red-tails soar up and back down over the trees.
Thursday October 9, 2008
Mourning Dove
It’s very windy at the moment but the mourning doves are somehow hanging on to the wire…
Wednesday October 8, 2008
Western Scrub-jay
It’s acorn burying time again! Traces of the rain from the other day have disappeared and the ground’s as hard as rock again, making it tough for these birds to bury the acorns that will keep them a) busy and b) fat all winter…
Monday October 6, 2008
White-tailed Kite
I might as well call Monday “Raptor Day.” Only today I didn’t go to the Raptor Center; I rode my bike out along the levee west of here to see if I could find any warblers.
There were a few yellowrumps I could hear off in the distance but I did come across this kite, a female northern harrier, and a kestrel. I have yet to post a sketch of a kestrel on Bird by Bird and will try to remedy this soon.
Sunday October 5, 2008
Say's Phoebe
The storm we had on Friday seems to have blown a lot of birds in. (We got a call today about a chestnut-sided warbler but we were not able to go after it, having been working a bike event in Sacramento.) Many yellowrumps, and this Say’s phoebe…
Thursday October 2, 2008
Lunchtime Birds
Orange-crowned, yellow, and yellow-rumped warblers, Hutton’s and warbling vireos, and the remains of a hapless scrub-jay. I’m enjoying these Thursday lunches with campus birders…
Wednesday October 1, 2008
Merlin
Coming back to work at lunch, a merlin flew overhead in hot pursuit of a house finch. They fly like small peregrines, strong and booking, rather than the more effete kestrels who are only just a little smaller. I don’t think the merlin got the finch — I may have disturbed its concentration. A true thrill, though. I tried to replicate the shape when I got back to my desk.
Tuesday September 30, 2008
Nuttall's Woodpecker
A female Nuttall’s has been exploring the phone pole, alternating with the house wren…
Monday September 29, 2008
Great-horned Owl
Raptor Center, again, today. This young female has been at the Raptor Center for several months but just recently joined the other great-horned owls in their enclosure… Apparently she just acquired her ear-tufts not too long ago.
Sunday September 28, 2008
Northern Mockingbird
Lots of mockingbird young this year. This bird has been feeding very close to the house, seeming to be picking out spiders?