food

 

the cranes have started moving into the raspberry patch nearby,their loud calls are calling in others every evening. They are also attracted to a nearby by field on Apple blossom lane and there will soon be a large flock there. They are also attracted to priestley place to corn that is placed out for them.

 

This shot was taken pretty quickly, so is kind of blurred. A loud croak was followed by a flurry of wings, and a Coopers hawk handed on the ground with bird as big as it was in those talons. The bird managed to escape, with the Coopers hawk following in close pursuit

The mudflats are recharging slowly with the groundwater coming in from the clear ditch and also from water from the the snowfall last week. The low levels and new mud is attracting waders like this sandpiper pair. Last week we had a brief visit from some striking black and white birds with narrow bills that might have been American avocets, but I didn't get the picture in time.

this little coopers hawk continues to terrorize small birds in the thick canopy along the lateral ditch. He is getting more used to humans and their dogs. the cranes are getting much more noisy and boisterous as they get used to the free food handouts the ravens directed them to.