Sharp-shinned Hawk

Hi All,

While sipping tea this morning, sitting at the kitchen table and doing some reading, I looked up just in time to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk take a Mourning Dove, and fly/smash into the window not more than 3 feet away.  It was loud and I actually felt the vibration.  They both went to the sidewalk outside, with the hawk on top of the dove, doing her “kneading bread” action with her talons as they must do with a fresh kill.  But the dove was dead, not really needing the extra boost into the afterlife.   I took a few pics, and below is a link to my best one.

Upon reflection, I am wondering if the hawk more or less planned to use the dove as a cushion for colliding into the window?  As loud and hard as it was, I expected the hawk to be at least a little “dazed and confused” but she was fully cognizant.  So then I have to wonder if they use their prey as cushions against trees and other hard objects during collisions?   I really don’t know, but it would be interesting to learn if such is an accurate assessment.  Anyone else have any ideas about such?

Most of us know these accipiters are fearless hunters.  I once saw one dive head first into a large bush, obviously after prey, just like how I use to dive into a huge pile of leaves when I was a kid.  

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Falls City American Dipper

The American Dipper.  Certainly one of the coolest birds around.  They live along ice cold streams, dive down to 20 feet below the surface to capture prey, and build their nests behind waterfalls.  There is a pair that nest each year in my home town of Falls City, Oregon, right behind the falls for which the town is named.  As they were in residence this morning, I got a little carried away taking pictures, and here are the best ones.

American Dipper 2/8/18  Falls City, Or

American Dipper 2/8/18  Falls City, Or

American Dipper 2/8/18  Falls City, Or

American Dipper 2/8/18  Falls City, Or

American Dipper 2/8/18  Falls City, Or

Barred Owl at Minto Brown Park, Salem Oregon 2-3-18

A few Salem area birders located a pair of Barred Owls yesterday at Minto Brown, so as I was heading to church in Salem today, I went there afterward and located one of them.  Pretty cool bird!

Jed's Redpolls and other yard birds

1/17/18

Hi All,

Recently 2 Common Redpolls showed up at the home of a Corvallis resident named Jed, a species that is quite rare west of the Cascades, and I had never seen one except way over in the NE corner of the state.  To add to the incentive to see them, a Nashville Warbler was also coming to one of Jed’s suet feeders - neither of which I had on my Benton County list.  I made the 45 minute jaunt there 2 days ago and saw the warbler, and after over and hour and a half wait, saw the redpolls today.  It was worth the wait.  All these pics are from his yard except the eagle which was seen en route home.  Sheep farming is popular here in the Willamette Valley, and with so many sheep, a few will succumb to sickness and die, and the eagles have a feast on their carcasses such as is seen here.  We often have a warm and fuzzy idea of how nature seems to be, but in reality, it is much more harsh, and we see the survival of the fittest played out much more often.

White-throated Sparrow

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch - female

Dark-eyed Junco

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Common Redpoll

Common Redpoll in front, Lesser Goldfinch in back

Bald Eagle eating "Leg of Lamb."

Steller's Eider +

Oregon’s 4th record of Steller’s Eider showed up on the coast Saturday morning, 1/13/18, and I decided to get over there today hoping it would still be there.  It was - along with many other birders over the coarse of the day.  This was a lifer for me.  The pictures are not the greatest, but one can ID the bird by them if he had to.  There were some Black Turnstones nearby, hence one pic of one of them.  Also, of coarse, another Bald Eagle pic.  There are really quite a few on the North Oregon coast.  It was a nice day there, clear, warm, but a good stiff breeze. 

Steller's Eider, Seaside Cove, Or 1/14/18

Steller's Eider, Seaside Cove, Or 1/14/18

Steller's Eider, Seaside Cove, Or 1/14/18

Black Turnstone, Seaside Cove, Or 1/14/18

Longspur and Kittiwake

Photos on 1-12-17 at North Jetty Yaquina Bay.

Lapland Longspur - N Jetty Yaquina Bay 1-12-17

Lapland Longspur - N Jetty Yaquina Bay 1-12-17

Lapland Longspur - N Jetty Yaquina Bay 1-12-17

Lapland Longspur - N Jetty Yaquina Bay 1-12-17

Lapland Longspur - N Jetty Yaquina Bay 1-12-17

Immature Black-legged Kittiwake - N Jetty Yaquina Bay.  He looks fairly striking from the back.

Hmmm......he does not look so good from the front. 
Must be a member of the Bleeding Hearts Club

American Wigeon

1/7/18:
Last month Ken Chamberlain brought to our attention that there is a variety of American Wigeon called a "storm wigeon."  I was totally ignorant of such until then.  When I saw this bird yesterday I immediately recognized it as such.  He is currently in Willamina, Yamhill County,  at the Huddleston Fishing Pond there, along with Common and Hooded Mergansers, Cormorants, Buffleheads, Mallards and one Eurasian Wigeon.

American Wigeon