Welcoming the Return

 The weather is changing at the wetlands.

Red-tailed Hawk:  "I am back."

Golden-crowned Sparrow:  "I am back,too."

 

White-crowned Sparrow:  "I am also back from the coast area."

In the Beginning of Spring

 Lately I had not seen a Red-tailed Hawk.  But today was different.

"I just came back to the wetland now that spring is coming."😄

Bufflehead, male(Right):  "I am here during the cold months."🦆🪿👍

Greater Scaup, female: "I just arrived here."

Green-winged Teal:  "We have been here for a while."😊

One Sunny Day

Even on a cold day, some little birds are around at the wetland.

Anna's Hummingbird, male:  "Yes.  I am one of the tough little birds."👍

 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet:  "Me, too."😎

Red-tailed Hawk:  "I am big and tough!"🌞🦅

Wildflowers in Bloom

 The wildflowers are beginning to bloom at the wetland.⚘⚘⚘

One of the wetland residents,  Song Sparrow, always welcomes us.😊

"Hello, it is slowly and steadily getting warm.  I like spring.😄"

Another resident, Red-tailed Hawk, can be perched anywhere.

"I am here today👀.  Spring has arrived😊. "

Returnee Hawk

 After a long absence, a Red-tailed Hawk returned to a tall tree in the neighborhood.

Probably because the new neighbor replaced the greenhouse with a regular shed.  No more scary bright lights all day long.

"Now I am back to a safe neighborhood."

 

"Rested, so am ready to move on to another spot."

The Fall Scene

 After a good rainfall, we returned to the wetland.  A familiar Red-tailed Hawk returned from the woods for the fall.  He perched on the wood pole for a long time to many photographers' content.

"Do you like this side?

"Or you may like this close?

Out on the reservoir, many Lesser Canada Geese were waking up from the morning slumber.

"Today is so warm that we are really rested.  We'll be 

here for a few days before taking off to the south."

Day is Longer

On a clear day last week I went to the wetland.  No road was flooded, thank goodness.  The bright sunrise in the morning.

Not many waterfowls.  They might have left here since the spring is near.

February 12th is lunar Chinese New Year called "Spring Festival."

"Uum, we can smell the spring."

"It is almost spring.  I can eat these new buds."

"I am a young Red-tailed Hawk, and  I 

can feel the daytime is getting longer."

 

Autumn Cleaning

 On a nice day, birds like to clean their feathers.  Dirt on the feathers increase their overall weight  affecting the flight.  Hidden bugs can cause skin problems.  So it is best to stay clean.

The other day, I saw a juvenile Red-tail Hawk perched on a tall pole, spending a good 30 minutes cleaning every feather on the tail.  Quite a few people walked by and some took photos.   But he was kept busy with the chore.

"A minute work on every feather counts.  I do not like a bug nesting on me."

"Flipping to make sure these are as light as feather."

"I am almost done.    Don't you think?"

Back at the Wetland

 Now the summer heat is gone and the fall weather is in.

Last week we stopped over at the wetland after a month.   As soon as we arrived,  I spotted a hawk up on the tall evergreen.  He often perches there at the entry to the wetland.

"You already saw me!"

As I anticipated, all the summer birds are already gone.  The quiet trails...

"We are still here," answered a female Redwing Blackbird.

A Nice Day

When I am out in the backyard, I always listen to crows.  When they are making a lot of noise, there usually is a hawk nearby.  Today was such a day.

"Hi, on a sunny day, I have to hover up high."

But on the way up, he was caught up by a bunch of American Crows.

"Why don't you leave me alone 

today!  I am just enjoying the nice day."

"I guess I have to go somewhere 

else where no crows can chase me.  Ta, ta....."

Flooding near the Reservoir

Quite often during the rainy winter months, the wetlands get flooded.  The other day was such a day.

The road is blocked.  We could not go into the reservoir area where people used to walk, jog, take photos, etc.

Later, we stopped at another nature refugee, which was also flooded at the lower area.  The entry way is higher and was not flooded.   We walked and took some photos.

Young Red-tailed Hawk:  "I could see a lot of water down there.  I hope

 I can find some rodents or something for my breakfast."

Canada Goose:  "We are ok.  It may take a while 

to get the water to recede, though."

A Sunny Day in Winter

It's been two weeks since I went to the nearby reservoir.  Today was sunny and warm.  People as well as birds appreciated it.


At the parking lot, I was greeted by a Red-tailed Hawk who was cleaning up his feathers in the sun.

"A nice day for cleaning up."

Then there were many Northern Pintails in one of the small ponds.

"Spring is coming.  I already picked up my mate."

At the pond across the road,  I saw a dozen of Trumpeter Swans.

"We are back.  We may stay here for a while."

Big Birds

Many Canada Geese against the blue sky in winter

Red-tailed Hawk at the favorite branch
This must be one of the two hawks I saw a month ago.

Sentinel at the pond
Right in front of me, he/she was posing for me on that sunny morning.

"I am photogenic.  Right?"

On a Sunny Winter Day

On a sunny day at the wetland, I noticed a couple of Red-tailed Hawks on the old tall tree.  They were sunbathing for some time.

On the other side of the reservoir, a Great Egret was fishing.  Do you notice a little fish on his beak?

And a lone Mallard duck was trying to wake up from the warm slumber.

"Don't make any more noise."

Meditation

Early in the morning, a couple of crows were  making a commotion.  Do you know what?  

Red-tailed Hawk:
"The sun has risen.  A nice, clear morning."

Red-tailed Hawk to an American Crow:
"Don't bother me.  I am meditating."

Welcome Back

In the fall, hawks return to town.  Since the new neighbor does not turn on the greenhouse light during the night, a Red-tailed Hawk returned to a nearby Sycamore Tree.

"It is safe again here."

"I am off for breakfast."

A Hunting Lesson

One day at a Natural Reserve just out of town, we witnessed a Red-tailed Hawk hunting a rodent for the first time.

That sunny, warm morning, he was sunbathing and cleaning the feathers earlier.  After we made a walk around and upon our return,  so did the hawk return back to the same tree.

Then, he was ready to jump off the tall branch right in front of our eyes.

Just for a short moment he hovered over the field.

And he darted to grab a victim (a rodent) and gulped in a second.

"Ummm, delicious!"