Saturday Gardening, Puttering and Outdoor Adventure Thread, January 8

Here's a Red-tailed Hawk I got a snap of a few weeks ago. It was probably looking for breakfast, and was none too pleased by me being there. Lizabth

It does look kind of annoyed. Has anyone else had some outdoor adventures recently?

Winter Scenes and Destinations

This mountain can be kind of treacherous for hiking in winter. There are the foothills, though. And it's nice to look at.

Ben Lomond Mountain, North Ogden Utah, New Years Day:

Winter seems like a good time to hike here: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

World-renowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, Valley of Fire State Park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. A Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park and nearby region. The park also hosts an Annual Atlatl Competition in which participants test their skills with replicas of ancient spears.

Petroglyphs

Bighorn Sheep

Fire Wave

Southern California has some snow, at least near some of the mountains. They need the moisture.

The photo above was taken in or near the City of Yucaipa, which is 10 miles east of San Bernardino. The traditional home of the Serrano Indian Tribe. They have some parks and trails there. Those are oranges in the foreground below:

Here in Central California, the navel oranges are smaller than usual this year because of water restrictions, but sweet.

Health benefits

Got any interesting citrus in your market or yard?

Brookgreen Gardens, Myrtle Beach, SC

The Night of a Thousand Candles is over for this year. But there's next year.

Weather and the Power of Nature

From a friend in Colorado:

Heavy snowfall helped put it out.

It's hard for me to imagine a fire this big in winter, but there were high winds.

Moar wildlife

From MkY:

No garden pics, but these are what's on my mind since it's sausage making time!
We are growing lettuce in the basement under grow lights. Will send pics when they come upstairs.
The first is a pic of a deer I've seen once each year since 2020. Because it's all archery here in the City limits, he's still a ghost.
Second will be interesting to see as he matures.
3rd is a toss-up as to whether it's genetics, or from an injury.

Good luck with the sausages, MkY!

If you would like to send information and/or photos for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden
at that g mail dot com place

Include the nic by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ,
unless you want to remain a lurker.

Posted by: K.T. at 12:59 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Looking to move west in the next year or two. Those pics on NV are tempting me to consider it as a possible landing spot. Gorgeous

Posted by: 496 at January 08, 2022 01:02 PM (U1eOr)

2 Had an up close encounter with a hawk that looked a lot like that yesterday. Just about stepped on him, he was having a bunny snack and none to keen to leave his dinner. He just went a few feet away and waited for me to move on.

Posted by: me at January 08, 2022 01:03 PM (9p+wn)

3 That hawk just heard Sotomayor lie about the 100K kiddies are on ventilators from Covid...

Posted by: Boswell at January 08, 2022 01:04 PM (5iUNf)

4 496 at January 08, 2022 01:02 PM

There is a surprising amount of wildlife (plus feral donkeys) not too far from Vegas.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 01:06 PM (0ghg2)

5 I wonder if the people who named the Serrano Indian Triabe also named Serrano chiles?

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 01:08 PM (0ghg2)

6 RE: Those deer. I'd be watching to see when the antlers drop...then go search for them before the tree rats chew them up. Depending upon how dense the neighborhood is, might enlist neighbors and kids to help, offer a reward of some sort for information , access or the individual antlers them selves. Maybe even make it an annual thang, try to get every year from now until his demise/disappearance.

Posted by: birddog at January 08, 2022 01:09 PM (uAI4S)

7 Sorry was slacking in my duties
Shoveled off deck, never know when more snow could show up.

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2022 01:09 PM (2JoB8)

8 We have had Broadwing Hawks here every year, sometimes in my truck eyes but within a yard yet they are very camera shy.

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2022 01:12 PM (2JoB8)

9 Really enjoyable pictures. Not counting the fire, of course.

Posted by: t-bird at January 08, 2022 01:12 PM (CTJwJ)

10 Fun fact: the Red-Tailed Hawk cry is the stock eagle scream you always hear in movies and TV.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 08, 2022 01:13 PM (DnWKq)

11 It was probably looking for breakfast,

I was looking AT breakfast...

Posted by: The Hawk at January 08, 2022 01:14 PM (W66RU)

12 6 RE: Those deer. I'd be watching to see when the antlers drop...then go search for them before the tree rats chew them up. Depending upon how dense the neighborhood is, might enlist neighbors and kids to help, offer a reward of some sort for information , access or the individual antlers them selves. Maybe even make it an annual thang, try to get every year from now until his demise/disappearance.
Posted by: birddog at January 08, 2022 01:09 PM (uAI4S)

a long time ago, the Nips would pay the BSA a lot of cash for all the elk antlers they gathered from the Wind River area in WY

highly sought after aphrodisiac in a ground form

at least that was what I was told

Posted by: REDACTED at January 08, 2022 01:14 PM (us2H3)

13 Son just finished the ACT. Said everything was okay except the science part.

Posted by: Jmel at January 08, 2022 01:18 PM (bVhJi)

14 Beautiful pics KT. Valley of Fire State Park is a place I'd like to see that I'd never heard of.

Posted by: dartist at January 08, 2022 01:22 PM (+ya+t)

15 Here's a Red-tailed Hawk I got a snap of a few weeks ago. It was probably looking for breakfast, and was none too pleased by me being there. Lizabth

Go figure. I just looked up "RedHawks" earlier this week when finding out that it was under consideration as the Washington ~~Redskins Football Team new nickname. And it led me to Red-tailed Hawk. And now here it is here at AoSHQ. Freaky...~~

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at January 08, 2022 01:29 PM (Do5/p)

16 We have had Broadwing Hawks here every year, sometimes in my truck eyes but within a yard yet they are very camera shy.
Posted by: Skip

Broadwings are lovely. We get Rough-legged Hawks this time of the year, which are, to my mind, the most beautiful of the hawks.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:29 PM (L3Rsz)

17 Ugh, html fail... try again...

Go figure. I just looked up "RedHawks" earlier this week when finding out that it was under consideration as the Washington ~~Redskins~~ Football Team new nickname. And it led me to Red-tailed Hawk. And now here it is here at AoSHQ. Freaky...

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at January 08, 2022 01:29 PM (Do5/p)

18 Brookgreen Gardens has a "butterfly house"...a greenhouse w/all kinds of bflies.

Posted by: BignJames at January 08, 2022 01:30 PM (AwYPR)

19 Son just finished the ACT. Said everything was okay except the science part.

Posted by: Jmel at January 08, 2022 01:18 PM

Science part or "the science" part?

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at January 08, 2022 01:30 PM (Do5/p)

20 When I went out to fill the bird feeders in the garden, I was greeted with a bit of carnage from a hawk feed on our back patio. We have a Cooper's Hawk that likes to feed on our various sparrows and Juncos. Blood and a few feathers were all that was left.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:31 PM (L3Rsz)

21 Fun fact: the Red-Tailed Hawk cry is the stock eagle scream you always hear in movies and TV.
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea

HA...yes. No eagle screams like the TV eagles do.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:34 PM (L3Rsz)

22 19
LOL! He didn't say.
He said that math and English and reading were fine, but I think he was tired by the time he got to the science part.

Posted by: jmel at January 08, 2022 01:34 PM (bVhJi)

23 Son just finished the ACT. Said everything was okay except the science part.

Posted by: Jmel at January 08, 2022 01:18 PM

Same for my son - he has a hard time remaining focused for long periods and distractions killed his timing...when I picked him up that day, he took his Cascio watch off and threw it in the trashcan outside the school entrance

Posted by: Boswell at January 08, 2022 01:40 PM (5iUNf)

24 Valley of Fire is a good place to take an Exotic Vegas rental car for a midweek spin.....

Posted by: robert kendall at January 08, 2022 01:42 PM (+UGno)

25 Captain Obvious is right about the Red Tail call. Oddly enough, real Bald Eagle calls are more high pitched and don't sound as muscular as the hawk's call.

We have a Broad Wing that has visited every winter since we moved here 5 years ago. As he soars above he makes short calls repeatedly. At first we thought he was a juvenile because he "talked" so much, but now we just call him Bitchy Hawk.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at January 08, 2022 01:43 PM (fTtFy)

26 I will have to remember to send you the picture of the hunting BobKittuh that crossed my path on the Blue Ridge Parkway a few years ago. I was in my car and using my phone so it's not a great pic. Still, it's a cool pic. That BobKittuh did not care that it was blocking traffic which consisted of me and, well, me. So, I waited and watched. It moved along eventually. Not before giving me a dirty look. I messed up the BobKittuh's hunting karma.

Posted by: Puddleglum at January 08, 2022 01:45 PM (sAmhv)

27 There is also a Wave rock formation like the Nevada one on the Utah-Arizona border. Hikers limited to 20 per day.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 01:45 PM (0ghg2)

28 Awesome redtail pic! How many stitches did you need?

Posted by: For gp, The Action IS The Juice at January 08, 2022 01:46 PM (qpX6U)

29 Definitely want to go over to the river to see Bald Eagles this next week, if we get a decent weather day.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:47 PM (L3Rsz)

30 My condo is on the side of a hill and I have a good view facing east. Every now and then, I'll see the local hawk hunting. He had a squirrel in his talons once. Looked quite pleased with itself.

Posted by: Puddleglum at January 08, 2022 01:47 PM (sAmhv)

31 Awesome redtail pic! How many stitches did you need?
Posted by: For gp

Ha..with my long lens, I wasn't nearly as close as it appears. This is a small crop of the original shot.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:48 PM (L3Rsz)

32
Same for my son - he has a hard time remaining focused for long periods and distractions killed his timing...when I picked him up that day, he took his Cascio watch off and threw it in the trashcan outside the school entrance

------------

I wear earplugs and ear muffs over that. I have the same problem, any noise distracts me

Posted by: Hatari Somewhere on Ventura Highway at January 08, 2022 01:49 PM (WF/xn)

33 We have had two wildlife encounters this week. One of our front yard toads decided to take a nap between the front door and screen door. I didn't step on it.

There was also a duck-like bird in the front yard one morning walking toward the neighbor's newly planted lawn. Don't think it was a duck and I think I should know what it was, but I don't, exactly.

We're in the Pacific Flyway.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 01:49 PM (0ghg2)

34 Really great pictures

Posted by: Hatari Somewhere on Ventura Highway at January 08, 2022 01:50 PM (WF/xn)

35 so the concept of the "screaming eagle " is BS ??

Posted by: REDACTED at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM (us2H3)

36 He had a squirrel in his talons once. Looked quite pleased with itself.
Posted by: Puddleglum

That'd be some good hawk eating.

I was watching out my window a few years ago and saw something flying into view. Grabbed my camera. Got a shot of a very horrified mourning dove, eyes wide open, being transported by a Northern Harrier. It was kind of awful.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM (L3Rsz)

37 "Serrano" is the Spanish adjective for highland, like serrano ham coming from the mountain region (sierra). Yum to ham, not to peppers.

Nothing going on in my garden except snow sticking around. Thanks to the new back neighbors putting up multiple feeders, most birds haven't discovered my suet feeder. There's a lovely red-headed woodpecker, a lone starling, and a pair of bluejays who treat it like a private club.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM (/+bwe)

38 that Fire Wave photo...looks like a Georgia O'Keefe painting IRL! Just beautiful. I'd love to see it in person.

Posted by: kallisto at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM (DJFLF)

39 We're in the Pacific Flyway.
Posted by: KT

Oh, you must see some wonderful things!

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:53 PM (L3Rsz)

40 Red-headed woodpeckers have a kind of funny call for a big bird.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at January 08, 2022 01:53 PM (/+bwe)

41 A little while back KT posted a picture of the 3 Japanese maples in my backyard, I noticed something fun since then. Horticulturists love Japanese maples because they crossbreed very easily, and there are over 100 named varieties. I noticed a 4th one coming up about 3 or 4 years ago, and I assumed it was another Coral Bark, since it was only a couple feet away from the main trunk. But as the leaves changed, I was pleasantly surpised to see that it was a Burgundy-Coral Bark hybrid, with bark from one and leaves from the other. Fun to realize I have a new variety, all my own!

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2022 01:53 PM (evAgx)

42 7 Sorry was slacking in my duties
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2022 01:09 PM (2JoB

This is going on your permanent record.

Posted by: kallisto at January 08, 2022 01:54 PM (DJFLF)

43 I grew up eating serrano peppers in east TX

it was the goto pepper for stuff like guacamole

Posted by: REDACTED at January 08, 2022 01:54 PM (us2H3)

44 One good thing about winter is you can see tracks of anything that moves on your property. I'll have to get the trail cam out soon.

Posted by: dartist at January 08, 2022 01:54 PM (+ya+t)

45 Fun to realize I have a new variety, all my own!
Posted by: Tom Servo

That's pretty neat!

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:55 PM (L3Rsz)

46 . Grabbed my camera. Got a shot of a very horrified mourning dove, eyes wide open, being transported by a Northern Harrier. It was kind of awful.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM (L3Rsz)

Oh no!

Thank goodness for the huge firethorn around my deck. I nestle the feeders within the thorny branches, and the larger predators find it very difficult access to the little birdies.

But some of the little birds jump onto the deck to feed, since I leave the pots out there with their dried plant material. I surely hope I never witness such a horrible scene as you did.

Posted by: kallisto at January 08, 2022 01:56 PM (DJFLF)

47 when the red tails attack the voles around these parts

the voles never see it coming

Posted by: REDACTED at January 08, 2022 01:58 PM (us2H3)

48

Scientists in the United Kingdom have named a new tree after Leonardo DiCaprio.

The tree, officially known as Uvariopsis dicaprio, is found only in the Ebo Forest of Cameroon, according to a publication in the scientific journal, PeerJ.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 08, 2022 01:59 PM (63Dwl)

49 and the robins have been going to town on aforementioned firethorn. I don't ever recall seeing so many robins off-season. This year the firethorn exploded in fruit, and the robins are having a party. (haven't seen any drunk yet)

What I have seen though is that they strip the branch bare in the middle, but leave the berries on the end, since they can't get to the end berries from their perch.
So now there's all these branches that look like a French poodle tail on the pyracantha bush.

Posted by: kallisto at January 08, 2022 02:00 PM (DJFLF)

50 at the turn off going to my house, my bichons and I saw quite the covey of very fat grouse

at least 12 of those beauties

Posted by: REDACTED at January 08, 2022 02:01 PM (us2H3)

51 Thank goodness for the huge firethorn around my deck. I nestle the feeders within the thorny branches, and the larger predators find it very difficult access to the little birdies.""

That's wonderful for your little birds...what good protection. Yeah...I'll never forget the look from the dove. They flew so close by me.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:02 PM (L3Rsz)

52 the voles never see it coming
Posted by: REDACTED

I hate those voles. They did a number on my little rose garden a few years back.

Posted by: lizabtha at January 08, 2022 02:04 PM (L3Rsz)

53 I was disappointed to see the doves had taken over our bird feeders. They're too big to perch on them, so they let the smaller birds get a bit to eat, then they sort of harass them into making the feeders sway and dump the food on the ground where they can get to it. Pretty smart, but they're ugly birds IMO and they make a royal mess.

Even the cats don't bother them.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2022 02:04 PM (BFigT)

54 From Boise area: Not much to say. We had about 5 inches of snow, but it's melting away, since temps have been above freezing since Tuesday. We've had some drizzle, some fog.

We've been seeing Flickers out back, and at the seed feeder out front. If they winter here, I wonder where they spend summers!

Posted by: Pat* at January 08, 2022 02:07 PM (2pX/F)

55 Even the cats don't bother them.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

Doves can be mighty annoying at the feeders. One thing someone told me might work is to get some cracked corn (which they really like) and just dump a pile on the ground a bit away from your feeders. Esp if near some shrubbery, they may be happy to stay there and eat the corn. I've had pretty good luck with this.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:07 PM (L3Rsz)

56 48

Scientists in the United Kingdom have named a new tree after Leonardo DiCaprio.

The tree, officially known as Uvariopsis dicaprio, is found only in the Ebo Forest of Cameroon, according to a publication in the scientific journal, PeerJ.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr

Good thing there are no Grizzly Bears in Cameroon.

Posted by: Puddleglum at January 08, 2022 02:08 PM (sAmhv)

57 The tree, officially known as Uvariopsis dicaprio, is found only in the Ebo Forest of Cameroon, according to a publication in the scientific journal, PeerJ.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 08, 2022 01:59 PM (63Dwl)
-----------
Wake me up when they name a new species of bear after him.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 08, 2022 02:08 PM (DnWKq)

58 Right - next week is the Idaho State Junior Olympics qualifying match, which is where I'll be, with some of my students - so my post will be very very late.

Posted by: Pat* at January 08, 2022 02:08 PM (2pX/F)

59 Crap. I got the Cron. Really shocked actually. Feel good. Just a touch of a cold. Are the rapid tests given at the testing places better than the ones you get at home? If they're the same no point in repeating the same test.

Posted by: Jaimo at January 08, 2022 02:10 PM (NXGjq)

60 We've been seeing Flickers out back, and at the seed feeder out front. If they winter here, I wonder where they spend summers!
Posted by: Pat*

Northern Flickers can be year-rounders in the lower 48. Some breed in Canada, and will head south. In NW IL, we see them all year. One of the bright spots of the winter forest.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:11 PM (L3Rsz)

61 Crap. I got the Cron. Really shocked actually. Feel good. Just a touch of a cold. Are the rapid tests given at the testing places better than the ones you get at home? If they're the same no point in repeating the same test.
Posted by: Jaimo

Don't know anything about the tests, but here's to your swift recovery.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:14 PM (L3Rsz)

62 Lizabth ... terrific capture of the red-tailed hawk. Great shot!

Posted by: Dr_No at January 08, 2022 02:17 PM (mu5GU)

63 Crap. I got the Cron. Really shocked actually. Feel good. Just a touch of a cold. Are the rapid tests given at the testing places better than the ones you get at home? If they're the same no point in repeating the same test.
Posted by: Jaimo at January 08, 2022 02:10 PM (NXGjq)

1. Doc Fauci says yer gonna die. (Just The Punchline)

2. Dibs on your stuff!

3. If you don't die, get well real quick.

Posted by: Count de Monet at January 08, 2022 02:17 PM (4I/2K)

64 In NW IL, we see them all year. One of the bright spots of the winter forest.
----------
I have a yellow wing I found in the yard years ago. Kept it's color.

Posted by: dartist at January 08, 2022 02:18 PM (+ya+t)

65 Love those tree and light pictures! No winter crops this year for me because it's going to be dry here despite that December rain. So I didn't plant any. Only harvesting citrus here in socal.

Posted by: keena at January 08, 2022 02:24 PM (RiTnx)

66 Flickers are odd here in KCMo. We don't see them much, but, in the fall, I might have2 dozen out pecking in the lawn.
Also, we have resident Broad-winged hawks. Supposedly song bird eaters, but all I ever see her carry is snakes. Good bird!

Posted by: MkY at January 08, 2022 02:24 PM (cPGH3)

67 Broadwing Hawks feast on other birds more than ground animals, or at least what I find in remains in my yard.
Did see a unfinished battle between a squirrel and a Hawk, the squirrel just stayed under cover until the Hawk moved on.

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2022 02:25 PM (2JoB8)

68 Love the hawk photo!

The deer antler growing into his head is sad. I've seen cows with horns growing the wrong way and they cut them.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 08, 2022 02:27 PM (AsEYt)

69 We've some nice raptors here in SW FL: red tailed hawks, bald eagles, various owls, but our favorite is the swallowtail kite.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at January 08, 2022 02:30 PM (KiBMU)

70 One thing someone told me might work is to get some cracked corn (which they really like) and just dump a pile on the ground a bit away from your feeders.

I think this is the answer. The current seed has corn in it and it's all over the ground.

Thanks lizabth!

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2022 02:31 PM (BFigT)

71 Buddy in MN. found 2 deer froze in his pond with locked horns. Pretty cool trophy.

Posted by: dartist at January 08, 2022 02:32 PM (+ya+t)

72 I wonder if the people who named the Serrano Indian Triabe also named Serrano chiles?
Posted by: KT

Or the Mafia Family....

Posted by: JT at January 08, 2022 02:35 PM (arJlL)

73 Hiya K.T. !

Posted by: JT at January 08, 2022 02:35 PM (arJlL)

74 CaliGirl

Don't think they're growing in. I have other pics. They just look as if someone grabbed the right side and tugged it akilter.

Posted by: MkY at January 08, 2022 02:38 PM (cPGH3)

75 Hiya, JT!

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 02:40 PM (0ghg2)

76 The one with about 12 points has a pretty good discussion on a hunting forum. About half think it's injury induced (when he was in velvet, I got pics of him missing skin on both sides of his body- as though he got rolled on the highway), or genes.
We'll see next year.

Posted by: MkY at January 08, 2022 02:42 PM (cPGH3)

77 Hiya, JT!
Posted by: KT

Happy Elvis' Birthday !

Posted by: JT at January 08, 2022 02:43 PM (arJlL)

78 swallowtail kite.
Posted by: Mr Gaga

Oooh.....I'd love to see a kite. We had reports of a Mississippi Kite up here in IL last year, exciting all the birders.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:43 PM (L3Rsz)

79 74 CaliGirl

Don't think they're growing in. I have other pics. They just look as if someone grabbed the right side and tugged it akilter.
Posted by: MkY at January 08, 2022 02:38 PM

That's good. They'll shed them anyway.

Posted by: CaliGirl at January 08, 2022 02:44 PM (AsEYt)

80 NaughtyPine at January 08, 2022 01:51 PM

Thanks for the Spanish lesson!

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 02:44 PM (0ghg2)

81 59 Crap. I got the Cron. Really shocked actually. Feel good. Just a touch of a cold. Are the rapid tests given at the testing places better than the ones you get at home? If they're the same no point in repeating the same test.
Posted by: Jaimo at January 08, 2022 02:10 PM (NXGjq)

I'm not sure that the 'official' tests are notably better, but my personal experience has been that corporate frenz consider them more valid than DIY kits. Which frankly raises a lot of questions about Uncle Sam's desire to push the DIY kits. Like, are they gonna do anything to address this perceived accuracy gap or just crap out a bunch of nasal swabs for the lulz?

Posted by: CppThis at January 08, 2022 02:46 PM (UewuT)

82 Jaimo at January 08, 2022 02:10 PM

Might want to gargle with that antimicrobial mouthwash twice a day for a few days.

Get enough sleep. Look through the other FLCCC recommendations. Hope you get through it fast.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 02:46 PM (0ghg2)

83 I have a yellow wing I found in the yard years ago. Kept it's color.
Posted by: dartist

Seeing that quick, bright gold underwing of the flicker is always a beautiful sight. We get starved for color in the upper Midwest, in January. Doesn't take much to please us, ha.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:47 PM (L3Rsz)

84 lizabth at January 08, 2022 01:53 PM

There is an apartment complex and a school in town which attract snowy egrets. Cranes congregate near one irrigation canal. In fact, the irrigation canals attract other birds, too.

And anywhere there is a pond, there will be birds.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 02:48 PM (0ghg2)

85 Also, when I coofed it was pretty mild too--fever and chills and some light to moderate congestion. Not as bad as a regular cold, other than the fever. It was the weird mix of symptoms that led me to get tested, actually.

Oh, and I had trouble sleeping. So it might be wise to keep some NyQuil or melatonin or whatever handy.

Posted by: CppThis at January 08, 2022 02:49 PM (UewuT)

86 There is an apartment complex and a school in town which attract snowy egrets. Cranes congregate near one irrigation canal. In fact, the irrigation canals attract other birds, too.

And anywhere there is a pond, there will be birds.
Posted by: KT

How lovely..the cranes/egrets are so wonderful. I have had good luck seeing (twice) a group of three Whooping Cranes at a preserve near us. On their way to and from WI, on their migration. Got their leg tag numbers and made a report.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:51 PM (L3Rsz)

87 JT at January 08, 2022 02:43 PM

Thanks! First time anyone ever wished me a happy Elvis' Birthday.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 02:52 PM (0ghg2)

88 Seeing that quick, bright gold underwing of the flicker is always a beautiful sight. We get starved for color in the upper Midwest, in January. Doesn't take much to please us, ha.
--------
Makes me wonder why they have it. A flicker of color as a distraction maybe?

Posted by: dartist at January 08, 2022 02:54 PM (+ya+t)

89 JT at January 08, 2022 02:43 PM

Thanks! First time anyone ever wished me a happy Elvis' Birthday.
Posted by: KT

(stick with me, kid !

)

Posted by: JT at January 08, 2022 02:54 PM (arJlL)

90 As the river has exonerated less poisonous over the years the entire ecosystem has come back. We have Red Tailed and Red Shoulder Hawks, Cooper Hawks, Broad Winged, and the occasional Rough Leg or Sharp Shinned Hawks. There's also no lack of Turkey Or Black Vulture's and the Eastern Screech owls along with Barn Owls are back. During winter if you're lucky and observant you may even see a Snowy Owl.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 08, 2022 02:55 PM (cFL36)

91 During winter if you're lucky and observant you may even see a Snowy Owl.
Posted by: Marcus T

I'll never forget the first time I saw Snowy Owl. What a fantastic creature! They sometimes show up at O'Hare, and get relocated over by Rochelle, IL.

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:59 PM (L3Rsz)

92 "I'll never forget the first time I saw Snowy Owl. What a fantastic creature! They sometimes show up at O'Hare, and get relocated over by Rochelle, IL.
Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:59 PM (L3Rsz)"

First time I heard one, I thought it was a dog barking. Lol

Posted by: Marcus T at January 08, 2022 03:01 PM (cFL36)

93 Makes me wonder why they have it. A flicker of color as a distraction maybe?

Posted by: dartist

That makes sense. Although maybe it is just for the sheer beauty. And attractant?

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 03:02 PM (L3Rsz)

94 lizabth at January 08, 2022 02:51 PM

I wouldn't want to try to catch some of the cranes here. BIG.

Posted by: KT at January 08, 2022 03:02 PM (0ghg2)

95 PET NOOD IS up

Posted by: Skip guy who says NOOD at January 08, 2022 03:04 PM (2JoB8)

96 First time I heard one, I thought it was a dog barking. Lol
Posted by: Marcus T

I just listened to one online, never having heard one. I can see why you thought that!

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 03:04 PM (L3Rsz)

97
I wouldn't want to try to catch some of the cranes here. BIG.
Posted by: KT

They are seriously big, for sure!

Posted by: lizabth at January 08, 2022 03:05 PM (L3Rsz)

98 My bird feeder was multi purpose. It also supplied the falcons with food. Sometimes the hawks.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 08, 2022 03:07 PM (cFL36)

99 I have quite a few Coopers hawk flying around y property. I' used to hearing them scream at each other. About 3 weeks ago, out of the corner of my eye I saw something fly by my kitchen window. I said, what the heck was that, a pterodactyl? It flew by a second time and I was able to see the white head. I couldn't believe a bald eagle was flying around my property, but there is a big pond 3 properties over plus I'm not too far from a very large lake. The lakes around this area a home to quite a few eagles. It was a joy to see it. My acre has a large variety of birds which gives me great pleasure as well.

Posted by: sidney at January 08, 2022 04:04 PM (7/kmB)

100 We live north of Chicago in a lakeside suburb of older growth forest. I usually support 3 or 4 feeders in the back yard and attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, cardinals, juncos, and of course sparrows. The local Cooper's hawk likes to hunt the feeder closest to the house. At least once a year, I'm lucky enough to be outside nearby and aware enough to see a strike or chase. This year though was special. Chasing what might have been a Red Wing Blackbird, the hawk missed, swerved in hot pursuit down the driveway, but miscalculated and flew into my neighbor's bedroom window. He actually broke it and left behind a cartoon-style outline of himself before recovering and tearing off after his prey. Pretty impressive to be there. Talk about recovery!

Posted by: secondcitylurker at January 08, 2022 04:39 PM (MEbkQ)

101 Maybe I can find a picture of the Cooper's hawk hanging out on a spindle on the railing of my back deck. I have a small pond 8 X 10. I can come home and find them hanging out on a branch as well waiting for a frog to pop-up out of the pond.

Posted by: sidney at January 08, 2022 06:52 PM (7/kmB)

102 My second hand hawk story: I was at the board meeting for our shooting club last month. The guy who's been working on putting up WiFi for the members and range cameras had two of those stick antennas you see on outside WiFi nodes, broken off at the base. Turns out they aren't designed to handle a 3-4 pound hawk using them as a landing and launch pad! Wonder how we're going to engineer around that? It could have been a larger bird - I've seen an immature golden eagle on our range. He was sitting on the side berm giving me the stink eye while I was sighting a rifle. Probably hoping for the gun fire to stir up some whistle pigs.

My nephew and niece-in-law have a home in Louisville, Colorado. That big fire stopped no more than a mile from their place. They thought they were going to lose it, so everyone is thankful for the fire fighters and the snow.

Posted by: Pat*''s Hubby at January 08, 2022 10:33 PM (2pX/F)

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