Cooper's Hawk

The cemetery this morning about 10AM was dripping, overcast and 45°F or so. A Cooper's Hawk flew up from a low perch into the top of an oak as we approached, and tolerated us on the ground for about 5 minutes before shifting position and ultimately flying off over the hill. It was backlit so I couldn't see too much detail, but the size seemed about 16" tall, and sported the accipiter's long tail when flying.

Barred owls and bad weather

OK, here duck is falling, the sky is overcast and lightly sprinkling, temperature is in the lower 40s F, and I'm hearing a Barred owl hooting nearby, four or five series. I haven't heard one around this house in many months.... I dunno.

Suet

The Carolina wrens and the nuthatches have taken a liking to my suet made with bacon grease, peanut butter, flour and several seed  varieties.  There are several recipes on the web; this one I adapted from a Bluebird suet.

Flocks

Squirrels were huddled on the tree trunks, fussing away as the two Red-tailed hawks found perches high in the oaks. Flocks of American robins are out in the mild, wet air after last night's rainsqualls. Further on, large flocks of Red-winged blackbirds, grackles and other icterids squawked and whistled from the treetops.

Back at the feeder the Carolina wren, Titmouse and Carolina chickadee feed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Bluebirds galore

4 at once on my 8" wide feeder! Even the White-breasted nuthatchs stood in line. Also had a couple of mockingbirds, first time at the feeder.

Ruby-crowned kinglet

WOW just saw a r-c kinglet male displaying a HUGE crown, visible with nekkid eye from 40'! A little orangier than a redheaded woodpecker.

mixed Icterids

Large flock of mixed blackbirds at the cemetery this afternoon. Although it was a grey day and the flock about 500' I could make out some red wingbars, and some greenish head/neck on larger ones with longer tails, leading me to Red-windged blackbirds and Common grackles, though they were rather quiet for 3-400 birds.

Barred owl on Ponce Place

Saw a Barred owl this AM around 6:30 AM on Ponce Place by the Baptist Church playground, sitting on the telephone wire. I stood and watched about a minute, then walked directly underneath him and onwards - he was nonplussed. Like my last sighting of a barred, it was low, perched on a manmade item, and had rained heavily within recent hours. hmmmmm

Shepherd Nature Preserve

Sunday AM the water was frozen about 40' from shore, but the 7 mallards took no notice. Lots of racy Cedar waxwings in the treetops along with American robins. This place is about 5 minutes driving from downtown Decatur - directions at the website.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_waxwing

Redwing blackbirds

Big flock at DHS Community Garden this morning, making quite a din.