Three, Four Birds

Buteo Lineatus

Great Blue Heron

Lake Stock

Yesterday, was a low cloud, foggy-type day. When you consider that we see the sun way more than most places, it seems like we have had a lot of gloom-type days recently. Still, life goes on and you take it in stride and wait for the sun to shine again.

It was the second day to see the coyote out hunting. I found the place where the red shouldered hawk (oops sorry, I would not want to misrepresent the species... but hey, it was a red-shouldered hawk) claims his territory. In the past several days, he has been in one of three places.

What was so interesting was that the hawk and the coyote were near the same tree and in the one tree that I had done a post about (Haunting old trees of White Rock) a Great Blue Heron stood on the top of the tree. The coyote was hard to spot at first. Only movement gave him away. He was after a mouse or a vole or some type of rodent. And, he would pounce on it, then pounce again as it made its get-away. Interesting to watch, as the hawk and the heron were doing the same thing...watching the coyote.

On the other side of the lake, the  water birds were following the fish and drifting. The contrast against the grey low clouds as the dew points and air temps were close together, also gave a backdrop  that made the contrast of bird feathers and colors stand out. So, it wasn't a bad day for viewing wildlife forms. The day before, I was talking with one of the guys from the water filtration building as the coyote was in the meadow of the old fish hatchery. He had been watching him from the parking lot in front of the filtration building, too. A couple, on a nature walk caused the coyote to duck into the thickets and disappear that day. When I ask them if they had seen the coyote that they had just passed they said that they had not but that they had heard him moving. So the verify was upped to three humans plus me.

The old and very efficient Red Tail Hawk was seen on 78 at the Arboretum parking lot where the drive to Winfrey Point begins. As I was turning, he came in to land on the old tree on the corner. His wingspan is massive and his tail fan was at least as wide as both hands with fingers spread apart and thumbs touching. I parked and walked back but he was chased out of the tree by a tree full of starlings or black birds. The limb where he was did reveal a great hanging bird's nest, however. It was one of the largest that I have seen at White Rock. (You get the picture, pardon the pun.) My focus was on the Red-Tail. So, it was a gloomy day but great for watching the reds at White Rock (red-shouldered [medium size] and Red-Tail [Large size]). Have not seen any Kestrel's (small) hawks, though. Another day. Another discovery. I'll include the bird nest on another post. It is an interesting display.



09Jan2016: edit birds to bird's