Chukar - a lifer for me April 29, 2010

On my way home today I saw a bird on the ground. From the road it looked like a male cooper hawk. I pulled over and took a shot of it to find out that no it was not a hawk but a chukar.
What is a chukar

Chukar: Large, quail-like bird with orange-brown and slate-blue upperparts and breast, and black and rufous barred white flanks. White face has sharp black line extending to neck. Bill and legs are bright pink-red. Escapes danger by running. Direct flight with rapid deep wing beats.

Range and Habitat
Chukar: Introduced from Eurasia; now occurs from British Columbia and Alberta south to California and Colorado. Preferred habitats include arid rocky hillsides and canyons.
For more info check out this web site. It is possible this is a escape bird from a game farm - but who knows.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/694/overview/Chukar.aspx

Egg and a wee suprise + screech is a box April 27, 2010

At work when I went for a walk at lunch I noticed that the goose sitting by the front doors had a broken egg. I took some shots of the egg from a distance and then a shot of the female goose. I had no ideas till I uploaded the card that the gosling was sitting there. Very cool.




Carol called and told me there was a full moon and looking out her window she could see 3 reflections of the moon. I tried to do it but no luck

Backyard Birding April 24, 2010

This afternoon Carol and I sat basking in the sun and doing some birdwatching. It was like being at the hawk watch at Rosetta Park. It appeared that we were on the migration route today as many Turkey Vultures, Red Tailed Hawk, Cooper Hawks flew over the house. Some were at the same level as the roof top. Other wonderful birds were cardinals, hermit thrush, downy woodpecker, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds, robins, blue jays, tree swallow and doves. All in the comfort of home sweet home.
Rory was very happy to have us there - spent all his time kissing Carol.

House Sparrow

Goldfinch

Red-Tailed hawk over my house

Canada Goose on eggs

Carol and Rory best buds

Red Tailed Hawk vs Kestrel April 24, 2010

Lots of excitement on the Red-Tailed hawk nest today. Carol and I went to visit it this morning and were treated to a flying display of Red-Tailed Hawk being chased by an male American Kestrel. The Kestrel was even attacking the nest. At one point 2 kestrels were chasing the male red-tailed hawk.

Once the chase was over we were treated to the female Red-Tailed hawk doing the dipping and feeding of at least one young. She would get up every 1/2 hour and do this dipping into the nest.

Later the 2 changed spots on the nest and the female soared around the building and finally landed on the government building.
To see more on the nest go to www.redtailnest.blogspot.com

Backyard birding today April 23, 2010

Today was one of those beautiful days you just sit outside and enjoy the sound of the birds.
In my backyard today was a cooper hawk, female adult, red tail hawk (flew by so fast I couldn't see much), 2 hermit thrush, many cardinals including a pair where the male was feeding the female, white throated sparrow, house sparrow, pair of downy woodpecker, male hairy woodpecker, male flicker, doves, robins, goldfinch.

This is the first time I have had the hermit thrush in the yard. The pair of downy woodpeckers were calling to each other and working hard on the nest.

It is a great time for birding.

Flowers and Owl April 22, 2010

My first trillium today. Walk with Janice at the Guild Inn brought a few nice suprises.

Cardinal, sparrow, thrush, flicker, hawk, and more April 22 ,2010

White Throated Sparrow


Hermit Thrush

House finch in flight


Beautiful Male Cardinal


Flicker making nest - see the tree dust around him

Male Cooper Hawk

Red Screech Owl April 19, 2010

On my way home from work I stopped for a short walk at the Guild Inn. It is only 5 min from my home. With a bit of luck I saw the red screech sitting on the branch.

Red Fox Family