Big Morning at the Farm Ponds

Trip to the farm ponds this morning.  We've not been out there much since getting our own farm.  It turned out to be a very good trip!

First, an immature hawk species.  I cannot tell the immature hawks apart.  This was either a red-tail or a red-shouldered.

And then this was at the edge of the ponds.  Looks like the heron is keeping guard over the mallards.

Buffleheads (female) on the lower pond.  One male was with several females, but he's not in this picture.

Then - we saw a large bird circling fairly far away, decided it was a vulture - until we spotted the white tail and head.  A mature bald eagle!!!  It decided to fly to a spot closer to us.  Still not great pics, but definitely enough to see what it was.

 Finally - something was in the snag at the top of a dead tree, where we usually say "Is that something?" and it turns out just to be the top of the snag.  Well, this time it was something.  A peregrine falcon.  A first for both of us.  The clincher was when it flew to get a dove for lunch.  Hugely powerful wingbeats, and FAST.  Classic for a peregrine.  This was also larger than a merlin, and much larger than a kestrel.  And the cheek patch fits a peregrine.  Great way to end the trip!

Farm Ponds 1/2/2020

Rainy morning - cold - but we went to see what was out there.  Beautiful male bufflehead with two females was about all that was interesting.

We did see two loons on Hartwell on the way out there.  I got this snapshot.  I almost think it was a red-throated (red does not show in the winter), but probably it was a common loon.

Feeder Birds 2019-2020

Started on 12/15/19.  This will be added to throughout the winter season.

1. Carolina Chickadee
2. Tufted Titmouse
3. Carolina Wren
4. Pine Warbler
5. Orange-crowned warbler
6. Yellow-rumped warbler
7. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
8. Red-winged Blackbird
9. Common Grackle
10. Mourning Dove
11. Blue Jay
12. Downy Woodpecker
13. Red-Bellied Woodpecker
14. Mockingbird
15. Brown Thrasher
16. Brown-headed nuthatch
17. White-breasted nuthatch
18. Northern junco
19. House finch
20. American goldfinch
21. Eastern bluebird
22. Cardinal
23. White-throated sparrow
24. Song sparrow
25. Chipping Sparrow

Recent Birding - Not Much

Birding's been a little slim lately.  We've been at the farm so much that we haven't been out to the Dobbins farm ponds.  I haven't yet established a birding place at the farm.  I need to get something set  up where I can go and observe to my heart's content.

People reported a white pelican at the Chris Taylor Memorial Park on Wednesday, 12/12.  Of course, that was the one day I didn't check the rare birds report during the day.  On Thursday morning, I had a window of about half an hour, so tore up there in hopes of seeing it, but it was apparently gone.

We've just set up the feeders, so the winter feeding season has begun.  I hope we can get something new or interesting this year.

Common Yellowthroat but can't count it

We saw this bird, dead, in downtown Anderson yesterday afternoon.  I should have gone straight to my Peterson, but tried to use another field guide instead.  A discussion on Carolina Birders Facebook page helped get the identification - a female Common Yellowthroat.  When I checked Peterson, yes, it's identical to the drawing/painting in there.  Sure hate to see this happen to this beautiful bird.

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

New yard bird.  I always assume that these are Cooper's Hawks, but this one was definitely smaller.  I studied up on the two and learned that the "Sharpie" is not only smaller, but has a squared-off tail instead of a rounded one.  This morning I confirmed it.  This one is learning that a meal can be had just by hanging around in the tree by our picture window (where the feeders are).  I have a picture and will post it when I get it uploaded from the camera.

My Find

Yard sale today:
3.5 lb. bag of Bark Butter Bites
5 lb. container of black oil seed/safflower seed
10 suet cakes
Suet tower
2 woodpecker towers
3.5 lb. bag nyger/shelled black oil sunflower seed

We calculated the cost - would have been $110 at the Wild Birds Unlimited store.  I got it all for $20.  And they threw in the generic birdseed (at lower left) just so they could get rid of it.  Very happy about this bargain!