Air Show

This morning, while eating breakfast, we watched as a sharp-shinned hawk chased or was chased by a magpie, tearing through the trees and around the yard. Hard to believe that the magpie was being so cheeky, but the hawk is almost the same size. As they flew over the eaves and on north away from our yard, a stellar's jay cruised up, totally nonchalant, begging for peanuts.

Yesterday my husband saw a red-winged blackbird in one of the ponds at the golf course. We went back this morning for another look, but no blackbird, only 3 muskrats, also a wonderful sighting.

Small Packages

Yesterday afternoon we glanced out in the back, and on one of the lower branches of our nearby spruce tree sat a Sharp-shinned Hawk. So beautiful. But up close, pretty darn small. When I think of how they veer through the branches and pick off an unsuspecting bird on the feeder, and in the same smooth movement, continue on out the opposite direction, it's amazing how powerful, how dangerous and yet small they are. After watching him sitting there for just a few seconds, one of our brash squirrels ran down the tree trunk towards him and the hawk left. The squirrel must not have felt any threat. It would seem as tho the hawk could kill a squirrel, but they must be just a little too big.

Sunday the 11th

This morning, a beautiful Hairy Woodpecker visited our "annex" bird feeder. Other than him, it's been a very busy morning with dozens of pine siskins. We're keeping our eyes open for migrating or visiting newbies.

Swans on the Lake

This morning our backyard feeders and birdbath were filled with hordes of pine siskins. Probably 60 -70. And on a trip to Kenai, we saw two beautiful elegant swans on one of the little lakes formed out on the flats following all our rains. Along with a handsome caribou. Beautiful fall morning.

The Flicker is Still Coming In

Have been seeing the flicker every day for quite a long time each day, ever since Sunday. And this morning we also had a male hairy woodpecker in the yard. Love seeing the woodpeckers.

Sunday Sightings

This morning we saw a yellow-shafted flicker at one of our feeders - he has stayed around pretty much all day. We have only had a couple of flicker sightings ever in our backyard, and in fact, only about three ever in the Kenai area. And then later this afternoon, I spotted an immature crossbill. Along with our usual 40 or so pine siskins, boreal and black-capped chickadees, nuthatches, gray and Stellar's jays, and magpies.

Then later on, near evening, a brown creeper! Our last one here was sometime in early spring or later winter. We are certainly enjoying all the different birds visiting our yard this past week.

Several Surprises

This morning watching the 50 or so pine siskins at our feeder and watering system, we suddenly saw a darting yellow flash, and realized we had a male Wilson's Warbler visiting our backyard. He flitted around for about two or three minutes and then left, too much competition, I suppose. In late summer, early fall, we often see Wilson's and other warblers as they are moving around, I am presuming, preparing to migrate.

This afternoon a male Downy Woodpecker was at the birdbath and the feeders. So nice to see him too.

And later on, two spruce grouse, one displaying his beautiful tail, under the trees far back in our yard.