Happy New Year!

Hawk hunting is good fun here in the winter and quite challenging
Finally caught a few of the illusive Northern Harrier
Love the snowy mountain background of the lesser crop.
Here is a tighter hawk crop

all the better to see her glory


Frigid cold and brutal wind. This adult female was busy hunting a grassy field and gave me many chances, though I must confess I missed the best ones. Mostly a joy to see her in action! She caught something and ate it, but I only had the shorter range car-cam since I was just taking a road less traveled home.

Happy New Year!

Thanks @dirtdorphins for the new thread.

May the bluebird of happiness visit you frequently!

Happy New year to everyone! Thanks for the new thread.

Dirt, I agree, do love the mountain backdrop in you photos, really makes the hawk stand out.

Not many bluebirds around here, but would be nice if one finds my garden.

Not a lot of visiting birds in my garden, still an abundance of natural food sources around. However the doves and Cardinals are always around.

Here it is Jan 2, 2019 and there were eight to ten Eastern Bluebirds visiting the neighborhood, actually my back yard. Males and females both came wanting the beef suet and also exploring the nesting boxes. I hope they stick around and don't get driven away by the nuisance House Sparrows

I am getting more birds and a greater variety each day. I started putting up feeders a few weeks ago and also bought a heated bird bath. I also had my Son put a large flat stump on the lawn near the hanging feeders. I throw some less expensive seed on the stump. So far it has attracted a flock of Gambel's Quail, some Morning Doves and Eurasean Doves, a Hen Ring Necked Pheasant Hen. Also a variety of small sparrow type birds. The hanging feeders are not being heavily used yet. Nothing has been at the Nyjer feeders or the husked sun flower seed yet. Noticedly absent so far are most of the Finches...Gold,Purple,Siskins, Lesser gold finches, Etc. One bird I failed to mention are Spotted Towhees. I love the nervous little rascals . They have been coming to the seed on the stump and there seem to more Towhees this year. A few days ago I saw a flash of brown and birds scattered. It was a Coopers Hawk. Later in the day I went outside and there saw a wing. The Hawk got its lunch and has been returning every day. A friend who is a birder brought me a feeder for peanuts. The Scrub Jays work to get the nuts. I'll add a picture tomorrow. They really have to work to get a peanut and I am getting to like them better each day. I live alone and the house is quiet but I don't want a dog, cat, inside bird or aquarium...I'll enjoy the birds outside.

We mostly have juncos and jays, plus a spattering of finches and sparrows, though I've seen a few towhees. With this cold, cold, cold thing going on they sure are enjoying the buffet

Happy New Year!

I'm always amazed by how many birds are around here in the winter but then I think maybe I can just see them better because there are no leaves on the trees...

Male cardinals are especially outstanding!



A Cedar Waxwing, I think.


This hawk has been spending its days perched at the pond's edge. (S)he's catching something.



It's a Red-shouldered Hawk. Here's another picture.

overhead, just kiting in the wind

Happy New Year, everyone. Wonderful bird pics! I need to catch up on quite a few threads; bird photos always bring on a smile .

Here's a photo of a rose-ringed parakeet from Muscat, where we were recently on holiday. I didn't expect to see that kind of 'exotic' bird in Oman - in fact there were many more varieties than I thought there would be - a lovely surprise!

This is an Eastern Screech Owl that is perceived as a "Rock Star". It's been occupying this snug little hang-out for a couple years right in the city. Looks rather sleepy but one must remember that this photo is taken during daylight so as darkness approaches it opens its eyes and does its thing. Probably one of the most viewed Screech Owls in recent times.I just hope the city doesn't decide to remove the tree.

Ahhhhh, the red morph. What a little cutie! I just adore screech owls. At our old house, we had one who came & took baths in the bird bath at night. I had gotten my dh night vision binoculars for Xmas once & we used those to watch the screech owl bathing. Oh & those calls! It's like Halloween!

What an adorable owl! Definitely Rock Star status in my book - I've never seen a screech owl in real life - what a privilege.

I just watched a confrontation between a male downy woodpecker and a Stellar jay. The woodpecker had possession of the suet feeder, and the much larger jay tried to intimidate him. No go, the woodpecker stood his ground and the jay retreated. Yeah for the little guy!

Does anyone know a trick on how to ID whether a Stellar jay is male or female? Not finding anything quick and easy online.

Hi Deb,

Unlike most predators where the female is a bit larger, the Stellar Jay female is slightly smaller but that doesn't help you much unless seen together. The male has a higher pitch call. As long as they know, I guess that is what is important!

LCL, that is an awesome picture of the screech owl and what looks like a spectacular tree! I sure hope, along with you, that they keep the tree!!

The only way I think that you can be absolutely sure is to catch one and"part the feathers"!!
I am almost certain that they won't like that a whole lot!!

@Bonehead
Deb, this is all I found:
Plumage of sexes similar, except female may have fainter and narrower black barring on tail- and wing feathers. Juvenile has sooty gray head and body; white eye-crescents indistinct or lacking; wing feathers unbarred; crest shorter than that of adult and lacking blue frontal streaks. Bill pale, but darkens by onset of Prebasic I molt.
From:
https://birdsna.org/Species-Ac...

Thanks Ann and LCL. Reminds me of sexing rabbits - turn them on their back and look at their genitals, one will be round and the other less round. Ha ha, good luck with that one.

I think this is a White Breasted Nuthatch.



Dark-eyed Junco and Chipping Sparrow


Resident Red-shouldered Hawk. This is the largest of its kind I've seen; thinking maybe its a female.

I agree on 3 of the identifications but I am unsure about the sparrow.
It could be a Chipping Sparrow but the crown should be a solid cinnamon. And there should be a nice thin black stripe above each eye.
I first thought a young tree sparrow. Without my Field guides in front of me, I am unsure if the youngsters have that black stick pin in the center of the chest.
Perhaps it is a young White Crowned Sparrow? Those lines over the eyes need to get whiter and there is the beginning of the white stripe on the crown. But I am not firmly behind that possibility either.
My best guess at this juncture, young Tree Sparrow.