Celebrating the ordinary
We enjoy our backyard birds year round. This is especially true in the winter when there’s not a lot else going on. Since late November we’ve been enjoying a pair of red-breasted nuthatches (Sitta canadensis), the first time I remember seeing these birds.
My “I’m thankful for…” list included two male Eastern towhees (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) in the backyard last week. The guidebooks previously referred to them as rufous-sided towhees, and I still prefer that name – the way it sounds and the way it describes their unique markings.
In last week’s post, “Life and death in the backyard,” Harry and I thought the bird we’d seen was a red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus). However, we were not certain and I invited other ideas. Thanks to the comments of excellent birders, we are now convinced that it was a Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperi).
Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are very much a part of our backyard. They are entertaining to watch. However, they also frustrate us by eating so much of our bird seed and digging where I’d rather they didn’t. When we saw a hawk eating one of them last week, I had mixed emotions.
I felt sad for the squirrel. Yet I also appreciate the majestic beauty of hawks and the part they play in the balance of nature. I know they must eat to survive. Bottom line, I’m glad to have seen this hawk at close range, and also glad we still have squirrels in the backyard.
After checking our bird guides and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornitholgy website, our best guess is that this is an immature red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus). If so, it’s the first one we’ve seen in our yard. If anyone has a different idea I’d be glad to hear from you.
Goodness, it’s hot and dry. It is a challenging time for plants, wildlife, and gardeners. I previously blogged about why purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are one of my favorite perennials. They’re now proving to be one of my most drought-resistant plants and attracting the most visitors, including this orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme).
