Tag Archives: Cooper's Hawk

Can We Say Goodbye to Winter – Yet?

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When I first started thinking about this post over a week ago, it was mainly going to be a way to send off an accumulation of photos taken over the last few months that I thought would soon look totally ridiculous as the days get longer and the landscape gets greener. I didn’t envision answering the title question with a yes or no answer, but maybe it’s best expressed as “maybe not” as a wind storm prevented me from going anywhere on Friday and then we eventually had snow last night and temperatures are plunging beyond that.

So, here we go. First, a left-over gray squirrel from January 12 by the Des Plaines River.

On January 17, I went on a walk at Sand Ridge Nature Center in Calumet City with Steve and Joann, and the highlights of the walk for me were ridiculously easy views of a Pileated Woodpecker on a fabulously designed suet feeder, and glimpses of a male Purple Finch.

On Feb 4, in very low light with a lot of ice on the Des Plaines River, I found an American Robin tempted by a frozen berry, and a Muskrat next to the ice.

February 6th in Riverside looked like this. The Mourning Doves made interesting subjects.

On February 9, the Cooper’s Hawk which is at the top of the post flew into a tree by the river and then out again.

I am looking forward to seeing more signs of spring. I know the birds are getting ready in spite of the weather challenges. We do seem to be getting more precipitation lately, which can only be good for growing things. Keep the faith.

In and Around the Yard

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The days last week when I shoveled a lot of snow – I think it was when I had gone back to dig out my car from the overnight plowing – I looked up and saw the local Cooper’s Hawk sitting in my neighbor’s tree. The last time I had seen it for any length of time was on January 22nd when it was sitting on my fence and then in my yard. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos below but they were taken through the kitchen window.

And even outside where things were clearer, I missed the hawk’s eventual departure from its perch.

I took advantage of the bright sunshine Tuesday and tucked around the backyard with the camera when I came back home. I was very happy to see the female Red-breasted Nuthatch in good light so I took way too many pictures. Here are a few…

I was also happy to catch a male House Finch at the bird bath. I don’t see them as frequently as I would like.

The American Goldfinches are still quite consistent, but their numbers are falling off a bit – everybody has spring fever.

You can see the feather wear beginning to unleash bright yellow for spring.

The birdbaths have become splash parties lately. Apologies again for the fuzzy photos but if I had been outside with the camera I would not have captured them because the birds would be out of the yard.

One thing the cold weather has been good for – giving me a break from refilling the suet feeders constantly.

I have had as many as seven Northern Cardinals in the yard at a time – but the time is always dusk or dawn. One or two cardinals might visit briefly during the middle of the day but they tend to not stay long enough for me to capture. So I am stuck with a fuzzy through the porch windows picture.

I’ve been out for walks a few times with not a lot happening, but there are moments when winter seems to be slowly losing its grip. The forecast for snow late tonight is to become rain by morning. While I hope the now-dirty snow will be washed away, things could get a bit muddy. But I have already heard some birds singing. And our choir may join them soon. We had our first in-person rehearsal last night since December.