Color magic

This had the makings of another predictable day, all the cold weather regulars. Poor coopers hawk being hounded by screaming bluejays until they decided to go scream elsewhere.

Nut bits appreciated.

This was absolutely ingenious. As best I could figure this fellow was trying to take pictures through the bubbles. I'd never before seen such a bubble-creating device, two sticks, string attached, dipped into a vat of soap stuff and then let the wind do its business. Fantastic results.

Even the fracture was fascinating.

I could really get into this, shooting through a prism. Brilliant fun.

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Over view

Right outside the door, sparrows cleaning windshields. Should they be tipped? They're finding seeds that have fallen from the trees. Industrious little creatures.

Into the park. Oh, I hope I see a hawk. Look up. Right over my head!! The young red tail.

I ran after it, over the hill towards Bethesda, huff puff, over the path towards Sheeps Meadow, huff puff.... and then I stopped, huff puff, not easy chasing when it's cold and I'm carrying heavy gear. It will catch something to eat and I'll see it again some other day. This is its winter turf.

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A chat

Cold Sunday! No way to know what would be seen. 69th street is changing. Halloween finished. Something else coming.

Normally at 69th street I see sparrows, cardinals and blue jays. This time they were all hidden in the bushes, but no sight of a hawk. Probably keeping warm in the brush. Instead I saw Santa Claus on a bike. Was this going to be a weird day???

Great day!! A first for me, a chat......... not the talking kind. This is a real bird in the warbler family, small, a yellow-breasted chat. No chance of getting closer, but now that I've met this bird I can try other angles next time. If there is a next time.

It was eating seed bits on the ground.

After that it was back to the cold-weather "regulars" until I froze and headed home for some hot soup.

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The color red

X-ray vision cardinals. They know I have nut bits in my pocket. It gets very funny. Or do they recognize the camera???

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On the way to the Meadow

The cold weather population is in town. It's not so much what, but what are they doing. Cooper's resting. Definitely not in search-mode.

Brown creeper definitely in eat-mode.

Ditto for nuthatch.

Color coordinated goldfinch.

Pine siskin still hanging around.

This was distressing, one squirrel with total body mange. I don't know if this is contageous to other squirrels.

Bye-bye titmouse.

Sit-and-wait titmouse, my kind of sweet bird.

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Big and beautiful, the Cooper's

Look up, look down, search all around, me and the hawk, both watching, hawk for potential food, me for beauty.

Love the talons.

Decided to go for a manicure.

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