Still "at home"

The hawk babies are still in the nest. Big babies. Flexing their muscles. Ever so beautiful.

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Pretty in yellow

This is a diversion,... the little common yellow throat warbler, images shot in May. The female is the drab brown/ yellow. The male has the mask. One needs a slight diversion from my hawk obsession. Big birds, little birds,.... all fascinating and beautiful.

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Survived the storm

All is fine at the hawk nest despite last night's ferocious storm. Nest intact. Babies fine. Parents attentive. A delicious pigeon got dropped off and the family dug in. Mama fed herself and the babes, plucked feathers. They are such neat eaters, polite, patient. After the meal the babies rested and Mama and Papa rested in a nearby tree. It was a grey, gloomy afternoon. A stream of human neighbors dropped by to check up on the family, all concerned after last night's violent thunder and lightening.

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Down by the river

There's more to see down by the river than just hawks. Sometimes I stroll south. Lots of geese. Only seven goslings so far. I'm sure there will be more. They dine in part on the algae on the rocks under the watchful eye of parents. Think wet spinach.

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Sidewalk Gourmet

A discarded hero sandwich bread lay discarded on the steps leading to Riverside. I knew this would draw somebody, so stopped to wait. The first to arrive was the starling,... tentative.... one bite, then fled. It backed off knowing the grackle would not share. Food-orgy time. The grackle was feeding for a family. That's the only time you see such a routine. Think of a little kid stuffing a whole pizza slice in the mouth. Same routine. The grackle has "ownership" down pat, hold down food with claw and demolish the food. It went back a forth several time, delicious treat for nestlings. A little while later there wasn't a single crumb left.

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