Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
I did 5 hikes here in Old Trail this week, and ended up with 35 avian species. One of the species was very unusual.
December 3We had quite a bit of rain ovenight, and I started out seeing a juvenile Cooper's Hawk drying out its wings. It was very quiet. A short time later, I saw a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk drying out its wings, but it spent about 30 minutes perched in the same spot crying out for mama and papa. Not sure why I don't see adult hawks drying out their wings. Perhaps they know what to do when it's raining, or perhaps the juveniles were out too late partying! :-)
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
Song Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Squirrel identifying as a dog with a bone
I went over to the golf course pond early afternoon, and there was a large white goose in the pond with some Canada Geese. The white goose is clearly a hybrid, but I haven't been able to know for sure what kind. I later found out what looks to be the same goose was spotted on Lickinghole Basin (a few miles away) on December 3, and was posted on eBird as a Graylag x Canada hybrid. Comments appreciated.
Hybrid Goose
Hybrid Goose
Hybrid Goose
It was cold and windy this morning, and woodpeckers were the most active avian species.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
White-throated Sparrow
Brown Creeper
Brown Creeper
There was some improvement in the weather this morning
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Great Blue Heron
Buck
Once again, it was the woodpeckers that grabbed my attention.
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker