Once when I was on a birdwalk in Canada, the guide said that an eagle sitting in a tree was "waiting for someone to make a mistake." We've used that to refer to all raptors. Today as I hunkered down in front of my laptop to add my 2 cents to DG, I looked out the window to watch the blizzard raging outside and saw that indeed someone had made a mistake-a robin had been caught by the feeder by Mr. Sharpie! Please forgive the lack of sharpness which is a result of a blizzard and a screened window!
The sharpie had quite a coating of sleet and snow on his face, but his eyes were clear enough. He saw me inside.
Another.
I have a few more.
Sideview again.
Last one. Then he flew away too quickly for me to get his beautiful striped wings. A car on the road scared him.
Wow great series boojum!! Thanks for posting these.
You're welcome! There I was with my camera right next to me. Just wish that I didn't have that screen up but you couldn't bribe me to take it off in this weather! Maybe next year I'll remember!!
nice capture on your part. Poor little Robin
The food chain can make us all grimace a bit, but to see nature at work is still a treat!! Marvelous photos, Boojum!!
Donna, wasn't there a song many years ago with the words "Poor Little Robin, walkin' walkin' walkin' to Missouri . . . he can't afford to flyyyyyyy . . . ???" Good Heavens, the things that remain in my brain that are absolutely useless!!!
LOL!!
And we're stuck with them. Me poor ma on her deathbed was recalling such drivel!
Now if I could just remember what I did yesterday and where I put my glasses . . .
Oh. Glasses...that explains it!
"A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all of heaven in a rage."
Can't remember who said it, but I learned in in 5th grade.
Poor little robin.
For Murmur
Poor little robin
Walkin', walkin', walkin' to missouri
He can't afford to fly.
Got a penny for a Poor little robin
Walkin' walkin' walkin' to missouri
Got a teardrop in his eye.
I hope my story don't make you cry,
But this birdie flew too high;
He flew from his old Missouri home.
He fell right into the city ways, like dancin' in cabarets,
From party to party he would roam.
He met a birdie who looked so nice,
A real bird of paradise,
Good lookin' but fickle in the heart.
She gave him kisses and gave him sighs,
But oh, how she told him lies,
'Cause she loved another from the start.
His dreams are battered, his feathers bent,
Now he hasn't got a cent;
He feels like his heart is gonna break.
So if he ever walks up to you,
Please throw him a crumb or two,
'Cause you could have made the same mistake.
WALKIN' TO MISSOURI
(Bob Merrill)
Also recorded by : Sammy Kaye;
Russ Morgan & His Orch.; Swing & Sway.
Nice shots Boojum~thank you!
I like all the detail of the ice on his head and face. I'll bet you were happy to get a number of pics boojum!
I missed out last week when a Sharpie got one of my Junco's right on my porch!
I saw a hawk get one of "our" baby Muscovy ducks a few weeks ago. I think I startled it because it dropped the duckling and flew off, but the damage was done. Two adult female ducks stood over the little one for about 1/2 hour afterward. Heart-breaking! I've seen one get a squirrel recently, too. However - hawks gotta eat, too. Nature at work, like Murmur says.
My dog sits and quietly watches birds all day but when a hawk flies over she starts to bark like crazy. Maybe an instinctual thing? I like to think she's protecting the little birds at the feeders.
Deb(inSC)
SacValley, you have brought a HUGE smile to my face - many of the words came back to me when I saw them, but not all. Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi, boo
Good, raptor shots. I don't see many in my yard. How much snow did you get this week? I guess enough it makes it hard getting to the feeder to refill them.
Teresa in KY
Hi Teresa,
Actually we got about a foot of snow. Our road is messy but most roads are okay. We have no trouble getting to the feeders ever since we started snowblowing paths to them (and the propane and oil intakes) a few years ago.
Great shot. I try to get pictures of our Merlin, redtail, or Ospry that comes into the area of the feeder to check out flying food. You are right that they see you in that window. They don't say "eyes like a hawk" for no reason. I am glad you got the great photos.
Mahnot, cute poem you learned, better than mine:
Little birdie in the sky
Dropped a whitewash in my eye
I'm no baby, I won't cry
I'm sure glad that cows don't fly!
Guess you went to better schools!!!!!
Good Grief, lol.
Cpartschick, I remember that one, too!!!
And I am being rather brave when I say 'eagles have to eat, too.' It actually breaks my heart and even makes me a little sick, but then I eat beef, chicken, pork, and turkey so who am I to criticize the poor eagles & hawks? LOL! However, if I had to kill my own, I would quickly become a vegetarian.
I love the hawks and eagles; what majestic and glorious birds they are. I know they have to eat, and I have a lot of doves here that Im sure get picked off, as I see feathers on the ground. I was sitting in my office at work the other day with the door open. I have a bush on either side of the door which is always full of house sparrows. I just happened to be looking out the door and a hawk flew into the bush, grabbed himself a sparrow, and took off. I couldnt believe it, that fast!! Mother nature at work.
It is an insult to our sensibility, but there it is. It's a beautiful but tough world out our doors and windows.
Perfectly stated, Boojum.
this is why we have the word "prey"
The eagle is just a hawk, but everyone loves it including me. I told the story before of our swans here. They seem to have a hard time getting thier young to adulthood. Out of 4 or 5 babies, maybe one will make it. Between the large pike, snappers and such it is rough on the little ones. One day we were on the deck and the Swans and their babies were swimming through. How lovely. Now, Mr. Swan is all puffed up and will attack anything that gets in his way. He chases the geese,or anything he feels is a threat by whapping his huge wings on the water and biting at tail feathers. You can hear him in the house it is so loud. It is pretty fun to watch. So this one day an eagle swoops down and snatches a swan baby right up and flys to a tree on the island. Mr Swan took off and went right after him. Flew right into the tree and then down onto the water and slowly swam back to the family. You could see how upset he was, and it looked like he was in no hurry to get the wrath of Mrs swan when he got back. It was heart wrenching and amazing at the same time.
Mr. swan can be quite mean. Another time he was chasing geese and I see one looking injured, just keeping ahead of him. Then, from where the goose came from, another goose and her little goslings came out of the cover and hurried up on shore. A few minutes later the other goose came back. He must have been a decoy to lure the swan away. I am still not sure why the swan chases geese with babies.
It is a tough life out there. Not only do you have to watch the sky, but a large fish or snapper can pull you under. A large snapper can and will take a full size Canada goose. We have seen it. Amazing.
In Alaska I used to enjoy watching the Bald Eagles fish on a cove near the house, they were majestic. And at the same time the Grouse there frustrated me, they would not flush and fly, just run away. Not any sport for a shotgun hunter. But hey were entertaning.
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The Grouse here usually fly and scare the beegeebies out of you, as they wait until you are pretty close before flying. We used to see more but a couple of bob cats moved in and now we only see one or two. The only time I see them run instead of fly is in the spring when they have a nest nearby.
One time I was on the quad going slowly through the woods and heard a strange noise. I stopped and then saw a male grouse walking up the trail at me all puffed up and making bloopy noises. My quad is red and I guess he thought it was a big rival to his mate. That was the first time I had seen one up close. Pretty bird. But bird brained!!!!
Staying on the subject, check out this amazing photo. Click photo to enlarge.
http://www.scenicstore.com/Prints/C_ID-130,1756,1759,1760/Western-Diamondback-Striking-Green-Jay/P_ID-16732/index.mhtml
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Wow, seeing this would be something, having the camera ready.....priceless! There sure are some great pictures out there.
We are lucky to have not too many snakes here. The ones we have are quite harmless although many people here have a snake phobia.
Ouch!
Great stories everyone!
I saw a grouse recently that didn't flush. First time ever.
Boojum, great pictures. Now go to your calendar on your computer and put on next Oct's calendar a date to remove that screen. I love having my computer remind me of random stuff and it keeps reminding me until I do it! We keep on a few screens so we can throw open the windows during nice winter days, but that one of yours needs the boot for better viewing pleasures of the vissitudes of life. Patti
Great pics Kathy! I lost a Junco at my feeder last week to a Sharpie...I guess they have the eat to! We had 1000's of robins here a few weeks ago and the Sharpies were having a field day! Seems Robins are their favourite food. The robins are gine now so the Sharpies have gone back to Juncos.
Hey, a sharpie's gotta do what a sharpie's gotta do! I didn't realize robins were preferred cuisine-but then there's prolly a lot more meat on a robin (poor thing) than a junco (also poor thing).
