Red-shouldered hawk, back orchard A couple of red-shouldered hawks seem to be scuffling over the rights to the back orchard and area near the house, definitely prime small bird area.
This might be the "victor," since s/he is making a much more visible presence known.
Red-shouldered hawk in flight behind the house
EARLIER, HAWK WAS ON THE UTILITY POLE CLOSE TO THE HOUSE WHERE ACORN WOODPECKERS USUALLY HANG OUT
Hawk's presence made all the smaller birds nervous, our bluebird parent wouldn't go near the nest even though he had a good spidery bug meal - just sat and made alarm chirps for a long time.
When the hawk was on the utility pole, it had been directly above the bluebird nest tree.
When the hawk was on the utility pole, it had been directly above the bluebird nest tree.
On earlier morning walk, saw this Bewick's wren in hedges bordering lower orchard. Very shy bird, it quickly retreated into deeper brush when I approached.
This crossing of the rest of the chicks plus the female aborted when they heard my first camera click! Only got this shot as the rest turned and ran back into the brush. They do need to be jumpy, they have many predators.
This is the lower orchard red-tail, watching me traverse the open area towards the eucalyptus trees where they might have a nest.
Front porch Anna's hummer, perched battle ready near the feeder he's guarding.
In the old orchard, near Furlong Rd,, a small blackbird chases a red-tail hawk from its perch.
Young nuthatches feeding themselves from the suet feeder, and also making the parents feed them, too!
Pygmy nuthatch on the suet feeder.
Difficult to resist this little face -PYGMY NUTHATCH
Is this a pacific slope flycatcher? Possibly. In the midst of the nuthatch feedings, this little bird showed up to check things out, but didn't stick around once it noticed my camera.
Whoops, I've got some suet on my nose!