Birdwatching

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This beautiful Red Shouldered Hawk sat on a limb just beyond the edge of my back yard. The birds at the feeder did not seemed concerned and continued to come and go as usual. I saw him dive down after a mouse in the weeds. That is how I happened to seem him.

Hawk looking for lunch

Making the most of daylight

Winter Solstice near

Phot: Dwight L. Roth

Frank Tassone reminded us that we are coming up on the longest/shortest day of the year. This coming Saturday is the Winter Solstice in our hemisphere. Midwinter can only mean one thing… Spring is on the way! Our Haikai poem this week is to refer to midwinter.

Join us at: https://frankjtassone.com/2019/12/14/haikai-challenge-117-12-14-19-midwinter-mafuyu-midsummer-manastu-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

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This Downey has been coming to my suite feeder and enjoying my sunflower seeds all winter. I see him and his mate, who has no red markings on her head coming back and forth. They are such a pleasure to watch. During the winter months they come every day.

Downey and Hairy woodpeckers are almost identical in coloration. The Downey is much smaller in size and has a much shorter beak than the Hairy, according to audobon.org . Another indicator is the red patch on the top of the head of the male. In the Downey, the red patch is usually solid all the way across. On the hairy it is split.