Winter birds started arriving in advance of the last cold front with
goldfinches, pine warblers, yellow-rumped warblers and orange-crowned
warblers feeding. One pine warbler is missing a foot but does ok one it
gets balanced.
Most house finches are still off eating elsewhere as are the jays. The
alarm jay and a couple of friends are still around and the alarm jay was
re-learning the kek call of the cooper's hawk. Learned it from many lessons
as a male cooper's hawk set up territory for a week with lots of calling
but moved on. The alarm jay is now doing a good squeee-lick of a
groove-billed ani but I have not been able to find any sign of that
species. But the jay is getting quite good.
The red-tailed hawks are back some of the time soaring over the nest site.
They still do not eat any of my squirrels but go off a distance for food.
Maybe the old tale that hawks do not feed near the nest is true at least
some of the time.
The munia flock is down to a half dozen or so. Was at the store getting
food and apparently people have large numbers at feeders that require much
millet to keep them happy.
Yesterday evening had a dark phase mourning dove waiting for room at the
feeder. It was a deep chocolate all over with the breast considerably
darker than the wings on a normal mourning dove. Very unique bird but not
seen yet today. I once had a dark white-winged dove but this is the first
dark mourning dove. Very neat bird.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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