I found several of these at a wetlands preserve while visiting Jordan in Murfreesboro, TN. However, in theory, we might spot one at the farm some day.
Just not yet, so far as I know. Perhaps the farm pond is not a big enough wetland area to attract them. This is a fine, striking bird whose yellow "cap" on his head is much brighter than it appears in this photo.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Kingfisher
by Norman MacCaig
That kingfisher jewelling upstream
seems to leave a streak of itself
in the bright air. The trees
are all the better for its passing.
It's not a mineral eater, though it looks it.
It doesn't nip nicks out of the edges
of rainbows. - It dives
into the burly water, then, perched
on a Japanese bough, gulps
into its own incandescence
a wisp of minnow, a warrior stickleback.
- Or it vanishes into its burrow, resplendent
Samurai, returning home
to his stinking slum.
This beautiful streak of a bird has been spotted over near the pond at the farm, but not often.
That kingfisher jewelling upstream
seems to leave a streak of itself
in the bright air. The trees
are all the better for its passing.
It's not a mineral eater, though it looks it.
It doesn't nip nicks out of the edges
of rainbows. - It dives
into the burly water, then, perched
on a Japanese bough, gulps
into its own incandescence
a wisp of minnow, a warrior stickleback.
- Or it vanishes into its burrow, resplendent
Samurai, returning home
to his stinking slum.
This beautiful streak of a bird has been spotted over near the pond at the farm, but not often.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cooper's Hawk
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...
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...
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.
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