Raptors! Raptors! Raptors!

Our second day of Project FeederWatch was a little more productive, but not much. We added Northern Cardinal and Eurasian Collared-Dove to our list. It was nice to see the cardinal out there because I haven't seen one regularly in weeks. Hopefully they'll start coming back a little more.

I did watch the rest of the birds around the house today and it was the day of the raptors! I saw six species of raptors flying around or over the house this afternoon. Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Merlin. The Merlin was perched on a utility pole. He stayed long enough to allow me to get my scope and get some good close-ups. The Sharp-shinned Hawk snagged a House Sparrow at the feeder this morning.

Overall, I saw fifteen species of birds today. It was fun even though I didn't get to get out and go birdwatching.

Birds Seen 11/16/09 (15 species): Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

Raptors!

I've seen several different raptors around these days. Along I-10 between FM 3180 and Hwy. 146, I regularly see Swainson's Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. I occasionally see a Crested Caracara flying over. Around the house I see Red-shouldered Hawks that live around here. It shouldn't be too long before the Broad-winged Hawks begin to migrate south.

I saw three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds this morning at the house. I am going to put up my feeder pole in the morning and put up a couple of feeders. It will start to pick up really soon!