Friday, July 26, 2013

Hummingbird

A hummingbird drinks nectar from a larkspur blossom

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

An Odd Sight

It's unusual to see the Merlins on the ground.  But, when I went outside after supper today, there were two, maybe three, young falcons near the roadway.  They looked very much out of place.  I'm so used to looking up to observe them flying or perched in the treetops, and  I was quite surprised by this strange behaviour.  Once they noticed me they immediately flew off.





Friday, July 19, 2013

Merlin

Falco columbarius
8:30 a.m. this morning....
 
A young Merlin is perched in a Spruce tree



A second Merlin is perched in the same tree on a lower branch

The young falcons are gaining experience flying, and they're also learning to hunt.  Lately it has become very noisy here.  At various times of the day and during the evening hours especially, the merlins' incessant high-pitched calls often make us stop what we're doing and go see what's happening outside. 
         

Friday, July 12, 2013

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus





On several occasions recently, I've observed the young Pileated Woodpeckers in a spruce tree at the back of the house.  They cling there preening or investigating crevices in the bark and wait to be fed.