It was a frosty morning at the wetlands, but the sun quickly warmed things up. A bald eagle was enjoying the sunrise, a Cooper’s hawk was hanging out, and the male wood duck was patrolling while his mate was investigating the nest box. I can’t wait to see the baby wood ducks!
I do my best to let our yard be natural, only doing what is required to keep us out of trouble with the city. This fall, I have had to do a lot of trimming of bushes and small trees along our fence that were getting close to the power lines. If I don’t trim it down, Westar will, and they will do it in the spring when birds have already nested and baby rabbits are hiding under the bushes. I try to be proactive, so they have few reasons to stomp around the yard. All of this means that the brush pile I have been adding to is much bigger this year. The white-throated sparrows seem to be loving it, and with two Cooper’s hawks, a merlin, and at least three free-roaming cats, it is much needed cover.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
It was a morning of coyotes and Cooper’s hawks. I took a walk through the Wakarusa Wetlands and it was relatively quiet until I ran into this beautiful coyote on my way back to the car. When I got home, I noticed the quiet immediately as I got out of the car, and the fact that no robins there to greet me looking for raisins. Sure enough, there was our neighborhood Cooper’s hawk sitting on the ground directly behind the brush pile (designed to give the birds some cover). Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
Much to the dismay of all the little birds enjoying our feeders, the Cooper’s has been hanging out in the yard just about every day the past couple of weeks. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
One of the many beautiful hawks wintering at the Wakarusa Wetlands. I think this is a Cooper’s, but might be a Sharp-shinned; I get these guys confused sometimes. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
Excellent article in the Huffington Post
“Kansas Highway Construction May Unearth Human Remains”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-smarsh/kansas-highway-construction_b_4164775.html
Every once in a while, a Cooper’s hawk comes to visit. While I am sure the little birds would not appreciate this humor, we do, in one way or another, feed everyone at our house. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
Nervous robin waits to see if it is safe to take a bath.
© Chris Taylor
Young house sparrows hide in the thicket until parents give the “all clear.”
© Chris Taylor
The titmice don’t mind. Fierce.
© Chris Taylor
Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks look very much alike. I’m going to go with Cooper’s on this beauty. She stopped by the yard today to scare off the little birds. Fortunately for the little birds at the feeder, and unfortunately for her, her surprise attack yielded no results. Everyone remained on edge until she left. She flew over to the neighbor’s and watched a bush where cardinals often hang out, but no luck. I felt sorry for her. She looked frustrated and hungry as she took off into the wooded area. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
A very young cooper’s hawk kept the blue jays busy in our backyard this morning. Everywhere she went, they followed. When they got bored chasing her, she would come back, swoop down at them, and the chase was on again. She’s learning to hunt and the blue jays are quite tired of dealing with her. I’m constantly amazed by the drama going on right over our heads. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
I love this time of year when so many interesting hawks come in for the winter. While the cooper’s hawk is a regular, I see them a lot more this time of year. The red-tailed hawk is amazing. Click on pictures to enlarge.
