2/23/08 Observations

- A cool and misty morning on the mountain properties...mid 30s and a breeze.
- Much of the Southeast had considerable rain the last day or two, but it somehow missed Fredonia Mountain. In vain, the bedroom door and window were open....anticipation!
- The birds are more vocal lately...but many of the migratory species have not arrived yet. It is still a bit early for the Wild Turkeys to start their spring gobbling.
- I still see a lot of winged predators...especially Red-Tailed Hawks, Sparrow Hawks (American Kestrel), and Sharp-Shinned Hawks. The migratory Broad Winged and Red Shouldered Hawks, both common here, have not arrived from the tropics as yet...though an early arrival could be seen any time.
- Attached is a photo taken yesterday afternoon.....the worst nightmare of the songbird....a Sharp-Shinned Hawk (this one is a juvenile) watching one of my bird feeders. The young of this species can be distinguished from the adult by the chest markings....vertical on the juvenile, horizontal on the adult.