Accipiter in the Yard

I was working at my computer this afternoon when a branch in a madrona tree seemed to shake rather violently.  I looked carefully and saw an accipiter hiding among the leaves.  I watched it for a minute to see if it would fly immediately but it didn't, so I rushed downstairs for the camera.  To save time, which is often of the essence with accipiters, I opted to try to sneak out the front door instead of return to my office door and deck. 

Before I could bring the camera to bear the accipiter flew to our bare pine tree and I managed to take a dozen or more photos while it was there.  It then flew to a higher branch and I obtained another dozen or so photos.  At this point I thought it was in danger of flying but it didn't, so I returned to the house. 

A few minutes later my wife told me it was out around our brush pile in the front yard.  I now had my camera upstairs (downloading from the memory card) so I went out on the deck and soon the accipiter emerged from the brush pile.  I think it knew there were birds in the pile and soon one flew, but the prey had a head start on the accipiter and it wasn't going to catch it. 

A little while later it was back in the brush pile, again hunting for birds.  By now the light was fading but I took another couple of photos.  It was really working the brush pile looking for prey.  The brush pile is not natural... I wired together livestock panels (1/4" welded rods composing 4" squares) in a box to protect the birds from predators, but the predators I had in mind at the time all had four paws!  However I know the small size of the squares made it difficult for the accipiter to maneuver in and out of the brush pile, hence the head start for the small bird I mentioned earlier. 

Since I'm not comfortable with the identification between a Cooper's hawk (which I suspect this probably is due to pervious sightings in the yard) and a Sharp-shinned hawk, I'll try to get a reading from a more experienced friend.

Last of the New Mexico Photos

These will be the last of the New Mexico photos. 

First up, another Dark-eyed junco, this one of the Oregon race... the variety most common in Skagit County and probably the most numerous bird in our yard in the winter.   

This White-breasted nuthatch is in its usual orientation... upside down on the side of a tree. 

And finally, a Curve-billed thrasher that was a little less shy than the one I had posted some time back that refused to come out of a cactus patch! 

Red-Breasted Merganser... I Hope!

One more local shot before I get back to my New Mexico photos.  I found this Red-breasted (I hope) merganser swimming just off of March Point last week.  It appears to be in transitional plumage between winter and breeding. 

Several years ago I photographed a merganser in the Cap Sante Marina and obtained a really good photo, although with a camera that didn't have nearly the resolution of my current camera.  I wasn't sure of the identification of the bird and asked various birding friends to help me identify the bird.  Out of eight friends it came down to four and four... half for the Red-breasted merganser and half for the Common merganser.  The definitive identification was finally made by BK and all the other parties involved accepted his identification and reasons for that identification. 

Since the weather is closing in and spring migration seems to be off to a slow start, I'll resume my New Mexico photos followed by photos from my February trip to Texas.  

We Interrupt This Program...

I've made it out to the local area a couple of times this past week and managed to get some photos, so rather than archive them I've decided to post them. 

First up, a Black-capped chickadee.  This is a rather common bird around here but owing to their constant activity they can be difficult to photograph. 

I found a pair of Ring-necked ducks just off Fir Island.  Although these birds are very widely distributed across North America I seldom see them here, although I must admit I now bird almost exclusively for photography rather than bird sighting and identification.  (My motto:  Shoot first, identify later!) 

Since there were only two ducks in this waterway, and they were both in very close proximity, I'll assume that this is the female of the species. 

Finally, and this is a real leap (and test) for my identification skills, a Common goldeneye off of March Point.  I suspect that this goldeneye was transitioning to its breeding plumage since some of its markings were indistinct.  This bird was alone and interestingly enough, just a couple of days earlier I encountered a merganser in almost the same spot. 

Birds at the Randall Daves Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Santa Fe, NM

The following photos were all taken at the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary, located east of downtown Santa Fe at the upper end of Canyon Road.  The organization puts out feeders and it's a place a photographer can easily spend the day photographing birds.  I'm usually there, as in this instance, in the winter, so my time limit is not so much patience but how much cold I can tolerate... and when I'm photographing birds I have a rather high limit!  The sanctuary often has snow on the ground (and sometimes falling) when I visit at Christmas. 

This first bird is a Black-billed magpie which I almost always encounter on the way to the sanctuary and not on the grounds of the sanctuary itself.  I think these birds are magnificent, but that's because we don't have them in my area and I'm not a farmer.  They have a reputation for marauding farmer's crops. 

I'm hoping that this next bird is a male House finch, my identification being the striped flanks.  If you disagree let me know! 

This is the Gray-headed race of the Dark-eyed junco and they are very plentiful as the sanctuary. 



Goodbye Bosque, Hello Santa Fe!

We're going to say goodbye to the Bosque del Apache NWP, probably my favorite refuge in the West.  (Be sure to click on the image to view the detail of the birds flying into the refuge for the night.)

Moving on to the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Santa Fe, NM...  

Dark-eyed junco, Gray-headed race...

Canyon towhee...

This photo was just too good to discard.  This White-breasted junco flew onto a bird bath just a few feet away.  I usually don't like man-made objects in my bird photos, but by my standards this photo is otherwise exceptional. 

White-breasted nuthatch (Thanks, Doug!)...



(Those of you who signed up for notification of new posts should receive a special email with three different photos of a Ruby-crowned kinglet.) 

Two contrasts in photography, in more ways than one.  The Pyrrhuloxia appeared from nowhere and landed withing easy photographic distance out in the open. 

The Curve-billed thrasher was deeply hidden in the shadows beneath a cactus and although I spent a considerable length of time waiting for it to come out into the sunlight, it just wouldn't leave its little island sanctuary. 

Female Pyrrhuloxia...

Curve-billed thrasher...

(Click on the thrasher for more revealing detail!)

More Bosque del Apache

Chipping sparrow...

Red-tailed hawk...

Female Gambel's quail... and they really need this camouflage! 



More Photos from the Bosque del Apache

These male Northern pintails cruised one of the flooded farm fields immediately adjacent to the car so it was an easy photograph. 

Male Northern pintails...

This is a raptor I have found it extremely difficult to photograph.  Here in the Skagit area the main photographic opportunities are when the birds are found on power lines, but even then they usually fly if there is any discernable slowing of a vehicle in their vicinity.  I was very gratified to get this photograph... this is a beautiful bird!  

Male American kestrel...

The refuge is the winter home of thousands of Sandhill cranes.  Most fly off to adjacent farm fields to feed during the day but return to the refuge and spend the night in flooded farm fields for safety from coyotes and other predators. 

Sandhill crane family group...