Towheeblog

“Even a blind pig finds a truffle once in awhile.”      –Folk Wisdom.

Today the blind pig got a bushel of truffles. Big birds behaving in public. First there was the conflict for control of skies. Air war between a pair-o-grines, my peretroopers. There was much diving and swerving and angry squealing as the two big falcons went after one another…and then separated before feathers were drawn. I know these are not great shots but trying to follow fighting falcons in flight is more than a little challenging.  It did not seem to be a courtship duet.  Here’s one of the battling birds barreling past.

Then a pair of Red-tails were copulating in a ponderosa, not far from where they have a nest that’s been used for the past few years. It’s high in a cottonwood along Bear Creek in Ashland.  Here they are after the act: First year Cooper;s Hawk seen in three locations around Ashland  Pond. Crows gather along Bear Creek for evening discussion of the day’s events.  This big a gang can sound like cable TV commentators, every passing raptor gets loud comment, mostly sounding negative. Hairy Woodpecker in our garden.        The relatively pale coloration of this bird indicates it is likely a local resident and not a wintering bird from further north which would likely be of darker background shades. Snn-spot, a Spotted Towhee in a sunny spot.  Bright orange=male adult. Acorn atop. Lesser Goldfinch female: