A Good Day for Birds!

We had a good New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and hope you did as well.

It was a nice holiday for both cats and birds.

After seeing one Varied Thrush in the backyard on Tuesday,

I had three birds hanging out the next morning!  

And I was able to take better photos this time.

The Thrushes are the same size as American Robins.

Some folks confuse them with Towhees, but they are quite different as you can see in this photo.

I had two males. Note the dark line around the throat and through the eye.

Now compare that to the softer colors the female sports.  It is pretty easy to tell the males and females apart.

It was also a very busy time for the Sharp-shinned Hawk. The bird perched atop my peanut feeder, and then came tearing over the top of the house at lightening speed chasing after a Anna's Hummingbird of all things!  I could not tell if the bird was successful or not - I do hope not!

Here's a photo of Junior - I can still tell this youngster from the other adult males.

And I am pleased to have heard and then seen this Red-breasted Sapsucker working away on a large Douglas Fir.

Off to the right of the bird you can see a couple of nice newly drilled holes. 

And I got a photo of the male Hairy Woodpecker who has been around since Christmas Day.  Once again you can see the neatly uniform work of the Sapsuckers!

And we can't have a Woodpecker post without a lovely Flicker.

It has been a great time for birds.  And speaking of birds, how about those University of Oregon Ducks!  We enjoyed watching them stomp on Florida in the Rose Bowl!