FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Excitement / adult Cooper's

[Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx]

Happy frigid morning,
 
Early this morning, I heard a thump against my kitchen window here in  
Charlotte Park, West Nashville, Davidson County, a few blocks east of the  
Cumberland River and across from Bell's Bend.  I looked through the French  
doors 
between the dining room and the deck to see one of the adult Cooper's  hawks 
fly 
into the tree right behind the deck and perch on a low branch.   After a few 
seconds, it flew to the neighbor's fence that borders my property  only about 
25 
feet from the corner of my deck.  It spent a few seconds  there, then turned 
around to face the deck before it flew into a tree out back  where it was 
somewhat hidden from the deck by a cedar tree.  I have been  warily awaiting a 
"Coop swoop" since then..........until just now!  It just  flew,with tail 
spread, 
after something which was out of sight at the south  side of my house.  There 
is gray feather residue on the kitchen window, but  obviously the bird 
survived the blow.  The hawk didn't have anything, and  no bird is on the deck 
under 
the window.  From the sound of the thump, I  think it was a mourning dove, and 
the feather residue looks as if it came from a  mourning dove's head area.
 
Late yesterday, I returned home to find a great horned owl perched in  one of 
my pine trees, up very close to the tree trunk as long-eared owls  are said 
to do.  It was still there when daylight ended and I could no  longer see it.  
Just outside the French doors on the deck, I found a small  clump of junco 
feathers.  Apparently, it had become a meal for one of  the Cooper's, an early 
snack for the owl, or maybe just a morsel for  a "friendly" neighborhood cat.
 
Also, when I pulled my car into the carport downstairs, BOTH Carolina  wrens 
popped out of the gourd in which they raised their young and started  giving a 
real fuss about being disturbed.  I guess they are using that  gourd as a 
warm roosting spot as they did last year.  
 
This is a four sparrow morning with a fabulous white-crowned sparrow eating  
away in the presence of my sweet little song sparrow, a pair of field sparrows 
 and several white-throated sparrows.  Where, oh where, are my little  
chippies that often winter here?  It would also be nice to see the fox  sparrow 
that 
appeared last year, but it only came when it snowed as I  recall.  The 
mockingbirds,chickadees, titmice and @*&$%# starlings are  gorging on peanut 
butter 
"ice cream" this morning  The PB is quite frozen  in spite of the oil that it 
contains, so it's really fun to watch the birds chip  away at it getting only 
tiny "bites."  Two "bossy mocks" are up there now  successfully getting some 
larger globs, but not as large as they usually  like.
 
Can anyone tell me WHY I have at least two SINGING robins?  Ever since  the 
rather warm, spring-like rains we had several days ago, two of my robins  have 
been singing as if they think it IS spring.  I would have  thought this 
freezing weather would put a stop to that behavior, but they were  out there 
singing 
away early this morning just as they do during mating  season.  Do you 
suppose the singing now translates into a call to the  "troops" telling them, 
"It's 
COLD, let's migrate," for the last several  days?
 
It's been a fine morning.  Now, I must replenish "Dee's Smorgabird"  and head 
out to get a batch of errands done.  I almost hate to leave home  and miss 
any birdy excitement that might occur.
 
Cheers, prayers & happy birding on a freezing day when I wish I could  have 
taken the time to go on the Nashville TOS field trip instead of HAVING to  do 
boring errands!
 
Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN
 
 
 

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