OH WOW!!!!! Why I should never stop gazing out the window!
I was not quick enough to get a photo – probably because I was rooted to the spot. But a few minutes ago, I was looking out the window at the bird feeders and a Blue Jay was drinking, then taking a bath in the larger bird bath. When all of a sudden, a bird about the same size as the jay landed on the rim of the smaller bird bath. But it was brown. With a white breast with vertical brown streaks. And a long, barred tail – browns and darks. A hooked beak. A juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk!!!! Just about the time I realized what was happening, the Blue Jay looked up, saw the hawk – probably uttered – oh no!!!!! – and immediately flew off. The Sharp-shinned did nothing. Never threatened the jay, never took a drink. Just sat on the rim with that perfectly still, upright posture so common with these hawks, then flew off. My guess is the feeders will be empty for some time – also our back yard. All the songbirds are probably hunkered down – waiting……
This Sharp-shinned probably nested in Canada and is now either in migration and will move on – or just arrived here and will stay for the winter.
As I have written previously, from about mid-August through September is always a slow time at our feeders and bird baths. Our spring and summer residents have left on their migrations, and our winter residents have yet to arrive – except for this Sharp-shinned. Only our permanent, year-round residents are with us right now: jays, woodpeckers, cardinals, finches, titmice, nuthatches, and chickadees are the most frequent users. There will be periods of time during the day where there are no birds at the feeders at all. But then, wham, something unexpected occurs! So don’t stop viewing – look at it as a wonderful opportunity to practice patience!
The livestream is on all night and I just posted 2 videos of raccoons – so it is not just birds!