This morning is cold, damp and dismal but the birds are still busy. Two American Crows are sitting in one of the taller Oaks calling to the others that are up and down the creek. They have a nest at the top of the hill. Many of the nesting boxes are being checked out by bluebirds who go from box to box looking for that special one but end up in the same box as last year. Now this irritates the other like the White-breasted Nuthatch and Oak Titmouse that have long since claimed their home.
A Flicker is on cleaning duty picking off bugs around the cracks of one of the bird houses. It may be checking for acorns which have been emptied out. Each fall the Acorn Woodpeckers fill many of the nesting boxes with acorns and then have a problem getting them all out during the winter as the pesky hole in the houses are too small. We empty and rebuild several each year because of pecking damage.
I was just answering emails when I glances out the window and saw a Red-shouldered Hawk fly up into the oaks with a tastey rodent and watched it while it dined. I grabbed my camera, dashed outside and I quietly did the low-bellied sneak to where I thought would be a good place for a picture. Well he had gobbled and flew so I will have to give you a picture from last fall.
