Sunday, February 25, 2007

Interesting Links

I have been having such a great time watching the live video great horned owl cam I haven't been paying much attention to the Valmont Owl Cam. Fortunately, Bill Schmoker has and he captured some interesting screen shots last week when one of the owls came back with a surprising prey item. I like how the owl cached it for a bit and all you can see it the foot in the bottom of the camera view finder. Har.

Speaking of owls, I was sent this link of a young barred owl getting repeatedly nailed by what looks like blue-gray gnatcatchers. I know I was sent this a few months ago but can't remember if posted it. Either way, it's worth a look see.

And while we are on the subject of raptors, Diva Kitty sent a link to a blog where a hawk got a mourning dove. The blog identifies the hawk as a sharp-shinned, but it's actually a Cooper's hawk (note the flat head, dark cap and the fact that it is much larger than its quarry). The blogger got some sweet shots. It's pretty amazing, she got the dove through a caged tray. I didn't know mourning doves could fit through those and am amazed by the hawk's ability to get quarry in extreme circumstances.

And finally, I was so overwhelmed with the glamour of birding that I forgot to mention that the latest installment I and the Bird is up. For newer blog readers, I and the Bird is a bi-weekly compilation of bird related blog entries. It's great way to find other birding related blogs out there.

I think I'm caught up...

3 Comments:

Blogger Derby said...

Hi Miss BirdChick.

Glad you liked my hawk/dove pictures. Even with my bird book was not 100% sure on the Cooper's versus Sharp-shinned. So thanks for the tip.

The feeder is covered by a home made wire cover. The gaps are 2x4 inches. Usually enough for song birds to get in not doves. But now and then a dove will squeeze through. But this is the first time in 4 years that I have seen this happen.

We do see hawks come through fairly often. Landing in my crab apple tree right outside my back door. First time it hung around long enough to get pictures. Thank goodness for a camera that can take multiple sequential shots.

2/26/2007 9:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

next time you check the owl cam, better have Cinnamon well away from the monitor.

Dawn

2/26/2007 10:27 AM  
Blogger birdchick said...

Doh! A back end of a bunny!

2/26/2007 10:35 AM  

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