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.