Monday, April 27, 2015

The hammer

It was delightful to see the thrasher and for sure the thrasher saw me and tolerated me. Smart bird. If I stood there no raptor would swoop down and grab it while it was hunting for food.  I've always watched thrashers tossing leaves, finding goodies under the leaves. This time the behavior was different. Whatever was there it had to have been hard, because thrasher extended its neck and hammered at the subject, not repeat hammering like a woodpecker, just one mighty BANG.  If my hand had been there  that beak would have gone right through my hand.
I couldn't tell what was being smashed, perhaps an acorn, but this behavior, stretch-BANG, was new for me.
Finally I could see what was being attacked, an almond, too hard to crunch with beak, but smashable by attack from above, like a sledgehammer.
It stayed. I stayed until nut was eaten. They we both went our private way.  Clever thrasher.
___________________________________________

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Somewhat quiet day

Worms are good. Sometimes bread is easier.
Hermit thrush is not interested in me. Interested in bugs flying around me.
Ditto for palm warbler. Bugs breed familiarity and trust.
Got it!
69th street tree. Raccoon home. Nothing like a good scratch.
The part that goes down the hatch last.

________________________________________________

Friday, April 24, 2015

The birds and the bees

Smart, smart, smart... if you're a sparrow and want to rest safely just blend in with the leaves, the invisible house sparrow.
Chipping sparrows all around
Palm warbler interested in bugs.  I think bugs were in front of my lens.
This was the best. If you want to screw in public that's fine, but texting and screwing is screwy. Pun intended.
___________________________________

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

The prairie

Nice surprise, the prairie warbler
Another sign of spring
______________________________

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Flitting subjects

I love  kinglets and ache to get the red flash of the ruby kinglet. They are just as difficult to photograph as hummers.
Oh well, the kinglets flew off and the shy flicker flew in.
____________________________________