Cooper's Hawk

Hawk 2
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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...

Black Crowned Night Heron Juvenile

Black Crowned Night Heron Juvenile 2
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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.

Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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.

Wood Thrush

Brown Thrasher 1
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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!

Catbird

Catbird
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker 2
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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.

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager
Originally uploaded by paynehollow

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...