Cedar Waxwings picking over the same patch of dried berries that the Robins found appealing in yesterdays post. We only see the Waxwings for a week each year and only in the fall. This year they were right on schedule and arrived sometime during the last week of November and had departed by last weekends walk through the woods.
We watched this Coopers Hawk move move about from tree to tree ever vigilant for and aware of their potential next meal. Although we did not see the chase we saw the result as squirrel was on this Hawks menu.
Unlike previous winters where Mountain Chickadees were the predominant species of chickadee in our neck of the woods this winter the Black-capped Chickadees seem to be the most abundant. We have come to affectionately refer to the Mountain Chickadee simply as spunky wheras the word “sweet” seems to be the best descriptor of the the neighborhood Black-caps. It’s fun to have both species around and to be able to really get to know their personalities and who doesn’t like a bit of sweet to liven up a winters day.
A Clay Colored Thrush like many other thrushes has an understated beauty. A wonderful singer and you can hear why it was previously named the clay colored robin.
We watched for a awhile as a Gartered Trogon perched on a branch intently watching the forest floor below. After a few minutes the bird flew down to forest floor and returned to their perch with prize in beak. It took them a minute or so to correctly position their catch but once they did it was….
…down the hatch it goes.
Quite a mouthful if I can say so myself.
While the nuthatches and chickadees visit the spruce trees in droves each winter we typically see only one or maybe two Brown Creepers busy foraging in the trees. We suspect they are after the seed that the nuthatches have just hidden.
Easy pickings or are they still searching for insects?
A Cygnet Trumpeter Swan going about their daily routine on an overcast late fall afternoon. The weather this day sure seemed to be saying it was time to move along further south soon. Yet this Cygnet seemed content and we watched as they went on..
drinking and feeding…
…and preening supported by dinosaur legs.
Have a great day and a wonderful weekend.
A solitary Little Blue Heron foraging on an overcast day. While the Juveniles are white this adult displays a beautiful purple-blue plumage distinct to this species. With their dark plumage these birds are a bit more difficult to notice foraging around the waters edge.
Sitting quietly and giving the impression of a massive hummingbird a Rufous-tailed Jacamar perches along the forest edge in search of an afternoon meal. Feeding mainly in flying insects the Jacamar will sally out from their perch like a fly-catcher and catch insects on the wing.
A quick visit with a Northern Flicker. This fine looking bird flew into a tree filled with a mixed flock of small songbirds foraging away on a cold November morning and we are glad she did.
She made a quick check to see what all the commotion was about checking to see if there was food of her liking on and old fir tree.
But alas, after a quick check of both limbs and trunk she decided to move on. A nice splash of color on a quiet fall day.
nature has no boss 
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