Hi again VAbirders,
Here's a quick report about what's up in our yard, critter-wise. Mrs. P
and Klutzy, "our" Pileated woodpeckers have been scarce for the last 2
months. I've been a bit worried about them, but they've been known to
"vacation" in other parts of their territory at different seasons, so I've
tried to be patient. In the last week, a female Pileated that I believe to
be Mrs. P has been in our woods. On one occasion she was being harassed by
a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I can't say I blame her for leaving when there is
such a pest in the neighborhood!
In addition to the Sharp-shinned Hawk, other raptors here on "Raptor
Ridge" in the last few weeks include Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk,
Red-shouldered Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, and an owl! The owl
was a new yardbird, and was first seen by my daughter, who has incredibly
GOOD bird eyes. A neighbor coming out his door and asking what we were
looking at spooked the bird away (drat!), so I didn't get a good enough
look to tell what kind of owl is was, other than that it was big. We will
continue to listen and watch for it.
This Spring's crop of Hairy Woodpecker younguns produced a female that had
an odd bill. Her bottom mandible was twice as long as normal. She was
able to use her bill however, because the bottom mandible developed a bend
in it so that the extra length of bill bent off to the side when she pecked
or pounded. I thought she had disappeared, but I saw her a day ago at our
suet feeder and she is looking fat and healthy, so I'm hoping she'll make
out fine.
The three fox offspring are still visiting our yard as well. Yesterday
they were tussling over a dead squirrel that they had cached in the leaves
at the bottom of our yard. We watched them feeding on it until all that
was left was the fluffy tail. The pecking order among the 3 was very
apparent and the low fox on the totem pole got little more than the fluffy
tail, sorry to say.
Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving and a happy Chanukah!
Lori Markoff
Vienna
Fairfax County
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