I think.
This hawk looks (to me) a good bit like the Red-Tailed Hawk (at least from this angle) and I'm told it looks pretty similar to the slightly smaller Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
This particular hawk very nearly flew through the window at our house, lifting up just before crashing into it. He still smacked into it, but as he was slowing down and lifting up.
He looked a bit dazed and stopped to rest a moment in the Maple tree in our backyard.
Let that be a lesson to you...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Black Crowned Night Heron Juvenile
This wading bird was spotted over on the Ohio, a few miles from the farm. They are in the region and could be spotted at the farm in theory.
This is the Juvenile version of the bird, the full-grown bird looks a bit different. The brown feathers give way to a more luxurious and dignified gray and white coat, complete with a black cap, hence the name. It's a large bird, larger than a crow but smaller than the Great Blue Heron.
This is the Juvenile version of the bird, the full-grown bird looks a bit different. The brown feathers give way to a more luxurious and dignified gray and white coat, complete with a black cap, hence the name. It's a large bird, larger than a crow but smaller than the Great Blue Heron.
Blue Grosbeak
These are gorgeous birds and any photo that I have ever taken does not do them justice. I had originally misidentified this as an indigo bunting, but was thankfully corrected by an alert observer. Thanks!
As far as I know, no one has spotted one yet at the farm, but they are certainly in the region.
As far as I know, no one has spotted one yet at the farm, but they are certainly in the region.
Wood Thrush
The Wood Thrush is a robin-sized bird with brownish, sparrow-like plumage. Except more brilliant and distinct. I spotted this one down by the bridge in August, interrupting his lunch, it appears.
As it turns out, the wood thrush looks a great deal like a Brown Thrasher (which I had originally identified this as), but the brown thrasher has a yellow "ring" around his eye that this bird is obviously missing.
Sneaky birds!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Catbird
I've seen these a good bit at the farm here lately (April/May). This one is hiding in the apple tree.
The catbird is in shades of gray and looks a bit like a mockingbird, but without the white bars on the wings. It actually has a sort of "meow"-y sounding song, at least at times. I don't know, but would suspect that would be the origin of the name.
The catbird is in shades of gray and looks a bit like a mockingbird, but without the white bars on the wings. It actually has a sort of "meow"-y sounding song, at least at times. I don't know, but would suspect that would be the origin of the name.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Downy Woodpecker
Excerpts from The Downy Woodpecker, by John Burroughs
Downy came and dwelt with me,
Taught me hermit lore;
Drilled his cell in oaken tree
Near my cabin door.
Architect of his own home
In the forest dim,
Carving its inverted dome
In a dozy limb...
Waking up the frozen woods,
Shaking down the snows;
Many trees of many moods
Echo to his blows.
When the storms of winter rage,
Be it night or day,
Then I know my little page
Sleeps the time away...
We are neighbors well agreed
Of a common lot;
Peace and love our only creed
In this charm'd spot.
Downy came and dwelt with me,
Taught me hermit lore;
Drilled his cell in oaken tree
Near my cabin door.
Architect of his own home
In the forest dim,
Carving its inverted dome
In a dozy limb...
Waking up the frozen woods,
Shaking down the snows;
Many trees of many moods
Echo to his blows.
When the storms of winter rage,
Be it night or day,
Then I know my little page
Sleeps the time away...
We are neighbors well agreed
Of a common lot;
Peace and love our only creed
In this charm'd spot.
Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is a brilliant red bird with strikingly crisp black wings that is common in our region. However, they are rarely seen because, I'm told, they are a secretive bird that prefers to remain in the forest canopies.
Not unlike some of us, I suppose...
Not unlike some of us, I suppose...
Eastern Towhee
The Eastern Towhee looks a bit similar in shape and size to the Robin, but has a white breast with red sides and a black back.
I've seen these guys in the blackberry briars at the farm, which has made getting a photo pretty tricky. This photo was taken at Louisville Nature Preserve, which has a bird blind which helps tremendously in getting good photos...
I've seen these guys in the blackberry briars at the farm, which has made getting a photo pretty tricky. This photo was taken at Louisville Nature Preserve, which has a bird blind which helps tremendously in getting good photos...
Friday, April 10, 2009
Purple Finch
I believe this bird is a purple finch, although I'm open to being corrected.
The purple finch is easy to confuse with normal sparrows, as its reddish color can be fairly muted. Despite its name, I think its color is a bit more in the red range.
Sort of like how the Redbud tree is actually more purplish, but in reverse...
And that's about all I know for now.
The purple finch is easy to confuse with normal sparrows, as its reddish color can be fairly muted. Despite its name, I think its color is a bit more in the red range.
Sort of like how the Redbud tree is actually more purplish, but in reverse...
And that's about all I know for now.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Female Bluebird
Cautiously watching this cameraman and waiting for him to leave so she can return to her birdhouse.
Bluebird
The Last Word of a Bluebird
Robert Frost
As I went out a Crow
In a low voice said, "Oh,
I was looking for you.
How do you do?
I just came to tell you
To tell Lesley (will you?)
That her little Bluebird
Wanted me to bring word
That the north wind last night
That made the stars bright
And made ice on the trough
Almost made him cough
His tail feathers off.
He just had to fly!
But he sent her Good-by,
And said to be good,
And wear her red hood,
And look for the skunk tracks
In the snow with an ax-
And do everything!
And perhaps in the spring
He would come back and sing."
Robert Frost
As I went out a Crow
In a low voice said, "Oh,
I was looking for you.
How do you do?
I just came to tell you
To tell Lesley (will you?)
That her little Bluebird
Wanted me to bring word
That the north wind last night
That made the stars bright
And made ice on the trough
Almost made him cough
His tail feathers off.
He just had to fly!
But he sent her Good-by,
And said to be good,
And wear her red hood,
And look for the skunk tracks
In the snow with an ax-
And do everything!
And perhaps in the spring
He would come back and sing."
Cedar Waxwing
I've been seeing these guys around a lot this spring - they gather in the dozens in the holly tree next to the house and in the surrounding trees.
Fun Waxwing Facts...
* Cedar Waxwings normally have bright yellow tail tips. However, some with orange tail tips began appearing in this hemisphere in the 1960s. Apparently, about that time, someone introduced a different species of honeysuckle with red berries. Waxwings that eat the berries while they're growing their tail feathers, may have the tips of the feather come in orange.
* Waxwings are one of the few temperate dwelling birds that specializes in eating fruit (frugivorous!). They can survive on eating fruit alone for months. And, I'm told, that unlike many birds that regurgitate seeds from fruit they eat, the Cedar Waxwing sends the seeds out the other end.
For those who were wondering...
* Waxwings are vulnerable to intoxication and even death if they eat fermented fruit. Not unlike other bipeds we know. (Are birds "bipeds??")
So, keep an eye out for tipsy Waxwings.
Fun Waxwing Facts...
* Cedar Waxwings normally have bright yellow tail tips. However, some with orange tail tips began appearing in this hemisphere in the 1960s. Apparently, about that time, someone introduced a different species of honeysuckle with red berries. Waxwings that eat the berries while they're growing their tail feathers, may have the tips of the feather come in orange.
* Waxwings are one of the few temperate dwelling birds that specializes in eating fruit (frugivorous!). They can survive on eating fruit alone for months. And, I'm told, that unlike many birds that regurgitate seeds from fruit they eat, the Cedar Waxwing sends the seeds out the other end.
For those who were wondering...
* Waxwings are vulnerable to intoxication and even death if they eat fermented fruit. Not unlike other bipeds we know. (Are birds "bipeds??")
So, keep an eye out for tipsy Waxwings.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Great Blue Heron
I've yet to see one of these impressive birds at the farm, other than seeing them fly over. I believe Roger has seen one at the pond before, though. Lucky fella.
These guys are massive and beautiful in their awkward, shy grace and one of my favorite birds to watch. You can see them fairly frequently anywhere down on the Ohio River - even alongside the monstrous I-64 stretch of the river.
These guys are massive and beautiful in their awkward, shy grace and one of my favorite birds to watch. You can see them fairly frequently anywhere down on the Ohio River - even alongside the monstrous I-64 stretch of the river.
The American Crow
it is ubiquitous, at the farm as in the rest of the region. Its distinctive call (a very loud and insistent, "Caw - Caw - Caw") and large size makes it easy to hear and see.
One morning last fall, I kept noticing crows in twos, threes and fours, flying overhead at the farm, landing just north of the north ridge. I couldn't see where they were landing but it sounded like there had to be dozens or even hundreds of them cawing away, just beyond my view. It was an eerie and awesome sound coming from that murder of crows.
One morning last fall, I kept noticing crows in twos, threes and fours, flying overhead at the farm, landing just north of the north ridge. I couldn't see where they were landing but it sounded like there had to be dozens or even hundreds of them cawing away, just beyond my view. It was an eerie and awesome sound coming from that murder of crows.
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