12 February 09
Cold Coop
Chilly and damp, this morning, early. A Cooper’s hawk landed in the walnut tree outside the kitchen, keeping an eye on the activity in the herb garden. It had its feathers all fluffed out…
9 February 09
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Such fabulosity in stripes. I should try and imitate it with knitting…
5 February 09
Western Bluebird
The female bluebird has been investigating multiple nest possibilities, including the interiors of three cars at work. She perches on the side rear window and hovers by it, looking inside apparently at the heating vent. Today she hovered just outside my office window, twice. I tried to catch the pose but you have to be quick!
3 February 09
Red-shouldered Hawk
The red-shouldered hawks are apparently building a nest in the eucalyptus outside, and are being very vocal. One landed in the walnut tree and moved about a lot. Next thing I knew it flew across the small field to much shrieking. It had something but I was never able to tell if it was a bird or a mammal — I’m thinking scrub jay — but in any case there were 50 crows around it within seconds.
30 January 09
Yellow-billed Magpie
Friday lunchtime sketching with Becky…
29 January 09
Lesser Goldfinch
Star thistle attracts goldfinches…
26 January 09
Loggerhead Shrike
This was drawn very quickly during our UC Davis bird count yesterday. We were given the south campus area which included some agricultural land east of the Raptor Center, which is where I spotted this lovely bird. No time for leisurely sketches, though!
22 January 09
Rain!
Some very badly needed rain fell overnight and this morning, and more is on the way.
This has led to an orgy of feeding on worms on the part of crows, robins, mockingbirds, and anyone else who thinks this is a fine meal.
The edge of the large puddle outside drew a steady stream of worm-gleaners all afternoon…
19 January 09
Double-crested Cormorant
We walked into town today to attend the Martin Luther King celebration downtown. On the way home I saw this cormorant preening in the afternoon sun…
15 January 09
You Say Goosander...
Common merganser at the UC Davis Arboretum today at lunch.