The Observation Deck

It has been a tough summer on raptors in the area. In the month of July the Wildlife Center had reported
the death of ten hawks, falcons, kestrels do to West Nile Virus. Buzzards also seem to disappear from the
skies in the numbers there were at one time.

But today as I drove down Detroit Deb spotted a bald eagle in the sky over the YMCA.


Bald Eagles fly very high, so it is hard to see them most of the time.


But this one was low and climbing.

When I got home there were two red tail hawks fighting over the rim of the canyon.




The younger light phased Redtail (aka Krider Hawk) chased off the older male, and flew up into the oak tree where he sits most days.

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This morning I walked out of Emerson School and found someone watching me.


A Cooper's Hawk, that looks well fed!


These birds are intense hunters and have been know to chase animals through bushes, even breaking
wings in their effort to catch their prey.


Last night the dogs treed some baby possums!





Good for eating the grubs that tear up lawns, except they tear up the lawn to get them.

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Spring is here and so are the animals...

This morning


Mom sitting on the nest.


Great Blue Heron working the swamp in front of their nest.






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At about 50 yards from me this cardinal stopped on the top of a tree.










150 yards farther behind the cardinal...



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I see the robins are back*





* yes I know robins are here all winter.


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Bunnies are out!


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Prothonotary Wabler


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Walking down in the canyon today...











02.16.2016


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Jim,
Glad to see your posting your nature shots again. The snow on the trees was beautiful. The deer look so friendly. When I was camping in the Smoky Mountains, the Rangers said not to feed the deer. We have pictures of the family sitting around the picnic table eating bacon and eggs while a deer stood at the end of the table looking at us. It broke my heart not to give him any.

hanging out on the meters on Detroit Ave.


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Coming up from the Canyon, there was a young deer running along.







Suddenly he turned to cut through the fence and got caught.







He struggled for awhile, then while talking with rangers on the phone, he collapsed falling back through the fence.





After laying there for minutes, he got up and took off down the hill.

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Seeing this thread makes me recall a curious encounter from a few months ago.

I saw a two-tone squirrel one morning.

Solid black body, like the black squirrels we've all seen here and there. But a "traditional" brown tail. Has anyone else ever seen this? I was out cycling, and maybe it was on Granger that I saw this chic squirrel. But I really don't recall for certain, at this point. I had no camera with me, alas.

If anyone else sees or has noticed a squirrel like this, do share an update.

The circle of life continues...


A red tail hawk takes a perch just below where the Bald Eagle sits all day.


While the Bald Eagle circles above.

This rarely ends well for the Red Tail Hawk.



And this amazing piece of flying!



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Red Tail Hawk sitting at the end of the driveway.







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