as the winter coat is changed out for more brilliant breeding plumage. Gotta look sharp for the ladies.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis).
Knocking on wood and a flash of color...
in the cottonwoods signals the presence of a woodpecker.
Male “Red-shafted” Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus).
A snowy surprise...
greets the breakfast visitors at the feeding stations this morning.
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).
Relaxing on one leg...
while its head turns on a swivel, Sharpie visits at dusk.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Blue birds against a blue sky...
as a small flock of jays noisily announced their presence this morning.
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus).
Lying in wait...
with infinite patience at the feeding station this cold and overcast morning, Sharpie sat nearly motionless for about 45 minutes.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Shopping the breakfast menu...
early this morning at the feeding stations, but Sharpie flew off unfulfilled on this visit.
A puffed up, winter-jacketed Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
If the Grinch was a bird...
it might be this grumpy-faced yet colorful member of the blackbird family. Perhaps not getting its fair share at the feeding stations on this Christmas Eve day?
Frowny-faced Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).
Here’s a list of birds seen at the feeding stations around the house in Castle Valley this Christmas season:
House Sparrow
House Finch
White Crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted Towhee
Common Raven
Inca Dove
Collared Dove
American Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Western Meadowlark
Magpie
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Scrub Jay
Western Bluebird
Northern Flicker
Neither deterred by snow flurries...
nor by my active presence on the back deck, Sharpie is becoming a dependable daily visitor to the feeding stations. Good hunting.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Having enormous patience...
for the right opportunity and fast off the mark, this tiny hawk is quite tolerant of my presence nearby while it hunts around the house for unsuspecting prey. One of these days I’ll capture the actual strike on its target.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Click on image to embiggen.
Adding a bit more insulation...
to the winter nest as nighttime temperatures fall below freezing.
Female House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).
Meanwhile, another flashy little sparrow works the feeding station.
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis).
In constant orbit around the house...
while patrolling the various feeding stations, this bird of prey knows where the Horn of Plenty occurs in Castle Valley.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Seemingly constantly hungover...
with its bloodshot red eyes, this large, striking sparrow is one of my favorites at the feeding station.
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus).
Look who's lurking in the rabbitbrush...
with its head on a swivel, scanning for a free meal this afternoon. This is the second pass today at the fly through buffet.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Note the different sized pupils, or anisocoria, due to the difference in lighting.
The latest addition to the guest list...
at the feeding stations this season is the usually melodic Western Meadowlark, though not very vocal this time of year as they are in the spring. But always dressed smartly for dinner.
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).
A powerful symbol...
in mythology and folklore, this large and intelligent bird is checking out the feeding station this sunny afternoon. Quite the handsome bird.
Common Raven (Corvus corax).
Creepy: The nictitating membrane is a transparent or translucent third eyelid, caught in the closed position over the eye in this high-speed image.
Rabbitbrush seeds are on the menu...
for breakfast this frosty morning.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis).
In a blur of motion...
this young bird of prey failed to strike its intended target that fled into the saltbush. It’s using my feeding stations to hone its hunting skills and I’ve got my camera ready.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).
Supervising my early outdoor chores...
from high in a cottonwood tree.
Common Raven (Corvus corax).
Tiny bundles of hyperactive energy...
forage in the ponderosa pine forest, announcing their presence with high-pitched peeps. They’re very tiny and very charming birds.
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea).