End of year HOOT

One of the pleasures of this autumn has been the presence of the barred owls, always partially hidden, always fascinating. It's the facial expressions and grandeur that make me smile.

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December worms?

This was the last thing I expected to see in December, worming robins.

This is expected, berry robins.

Also expected, downy getting peanut butter mash.

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Holiday treat

69th street is always holiday colorful.

Treats for the birds, a mix of peanut butter and fat plus a secret ingredient that squirrels don't like. The sparrows have learned how to cling.

Squirrel samples, but then departs due to secret ingredient.

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Seasonal music?

"Silent night, Holy night"

Forget that!    Right on 69th street. Rat tat tat, rat tat tat.  Very holey.

Yellowbelly sapsucker loves this tree.  Swiss cheese tree now. It perched here drilling and calling for hours.  Pointedly beautiful and funny.

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Watching details

This was a puzzle, looked like a pine siskin, but beak of a finch. Decision: palest female finch I've ever seen.

Zaniest mallard in a while.

Coot with fine reflection

Lots of redtails doing their thing.... hunting.

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Hawking

Not much time for birding..... work, holiday chores..... I'd like to soar on a thermal for a while.

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The Nibbles

Titmice, titmice, titmice all over the place.

The challenge, face-off.  This feeder belongs to nuthatch.

The berry season- holly tree full of robins.

Dropped berries,- the equivalent of cherry tomatoes for robins.

All of one color

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