Red-shouldered Hawk

 A December visitor to the backyard. The Red-shouldered as well as the Sharp-shinned have enjoyed this Cedar pile under our Red Maple Tree.

Hawks

 As a Birder, I put off learning to identify Hawks. I thought they were always so high flying it would seem impossible to get identifying marks in your binoculars .  Time has passed and I do consider myself better equipped with more knowledge for their identification. These birds of prey have become fascinating to me. For one reason or another I seem to be in the right place to see them and I am becoming better at identifying the ones in my area. The Red-tailed Hawk is seen often in the open fields and trees near our home. They are probably the most common Hawk we see.  In the winter we see Cooper's and Sharp-shined passing through the backyard sending all our song and small birds rushing for cover. The  Red-tailed are ones we see almost everyday as we pass acreage on our way to our new property. We find that they are usually sitting too far off the road or most often we do not have our camera! On this afternoon my husband pulled off the road and I shot a few ......Photos. Blessings!

Fall Anticipation!

One female Hummingbird is still visiting our feeder.   The leaves are getting a slight tinge of color. I say color as in "colors" as we know them in  Texas. The Sweetgums, Hickory, Osage orange, and the Sassafras are just hinting that our fall is getting much closer.  We have had only one visiting Baltimore Oriole on his way back from his summer home.  The American crows are feasting on our pecans as well as a few pesky squirrels.  The male and female Bluebird came by yesterday to visit last season's nesting box.  The Blue Jays are many and love the big Oak Tree out in the front yard. Our familiar Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee are ever present at the seed feeders. The  Cardinals are still the last to enjoy the birdbath at dusk.  A small Hawk flies through the back yard occasionally.  He is probably a Sharp-shinned or maybe Cooper's. I have been keeping my eyes to the ground watching for our Chipping Sparrows to arrive as well as all of the other winter birds we enjoy. After living on this property for nearly 30 years I have become very familiar with my feathered friends that visit and call my yard home for awhile each year. I wish Daylight Savings Time did not end in in November. We have such beautiful evenings in the fall and early Texas winter.  I would love another hour to enjoy them. Fall is my favorite time of the year and I am so blessed to see the gorgeous stars and harvest moons we enjoy at this time. I have seem several shooting stars as I enjoy my coffee in the dark cool beauty of the early morning. Blessings to all!