On Saturday at mid-morning we spotted this Coopers hawk tidying up a bit on a broken old Cottonwood branch. He looked like he has had a bit of a rough time lately with his feathers looking downright scruffy. After a half hour or so of preening his feathers were back in fine order and he was off again hunting in nearby woods.
With winter finally making it our way so have the Northern Shovelers who overwinter on the ponds and lakes in our area. This Female Northern Shoveler was busy foraging for food on Clear Creek on a chilly December morning.
Three gulls take to the wing and seem right at home on a stormy rainy afternoon off the Oregon Coast.
As the storm whipped up the waves and the rain came down sideways a land-bound and lonely looking Brandt Goose looks longingly out to sea waiting for the storm to clear. This goose looked to be alone and we sure hope they caught up to their flock when the storm finally cleared the next afternoon.
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.
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On a cold winters day a ruffed grouse finds the hot spot where thermal activity below the surface has melted the snow above. Yellowstone National Park, WY.
Hope the pickings were good.
The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology describes the Townsend’s Solitaire as “A long-tailed gray bird of the high western mountains, the Townsend’s Solitaire descends in the winter to lower elevations where it feeds almost exclusively on juniper berries. ”
That pretty much sums up our experience with these birds. We see them only in winter and always in, around and defending their patch of Juniper berries.
Although described as grey they are much more than that and deserving of the spotlight on a stage all their own.
Cloaked in the warmth of wing feathers a Mallard pair sits quietly yet alert while soaking up the suns warming rays on a cold December morning. Clear Creek in Denver, CO.
It is always a pleasure to see the Juncos come visit us in the winter. They bring some variety to the mix of birds in the neighborhood when most of the usual cast of characters has fled for the winter.
A great Blue Heron takes off form along the edge of the pond after a recent snow. Denver, CO.
nature has no boss 
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