010621 Winter Scenery At a Rain Soaked Boomer Lake

122120                                                      Lesser Canada Goose

This little goose is very easy to notice among its bigger kin, the Canada Goose.  The bill is smaller and the breast is paler

122720                                              Red-Shafted Northern Flicker

These birds appear periodically this far east, but are more common in western Oklahoma, like the Panhandle region.  A few years ago, there was an adult in the area, and this bird might be one of the offspring.

                                                                       Cedar Waxwing

Waxwings are getting more common, no longer as "irruptive" as they once were.  They don't mind the fruit of the Bradford pear tree, an invasive tree from China and Viet Nam that is becoming ever popular in the US, is also known as the callery pear.  These trees are resistant to disease and readily eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds.  The trees can be susceptible to storm, wind, and ice/sno damage, making it a hazard.  

122220                                                      Downy Woodpecker

This young lady was picture perfect and didn't mind my company.  This shot was captured while the bird was nearly at eye level.  She'd  climb one tree, then start the same activity on another.

010221                                              Dark-eyed Junco (cismontanus)

This bird or others like it have been fairly common this winter.  I have seen it four times over the past couple of weeks.

010221                                                         American Crow

This was during the period of several inches of rain and about an inch of snow in The Lowlands.  Two American Crows were visiting, each with a pecan.  This individual was captured as it went to a lower area for a drink of water, which was also occupied by several Mallards.  The water was deep enough to cover their legs while standing.

010421                                                               Mallards

This was an attractive shot that happened to be visible while writer was photographing the crows.  They made several passes, so it was not difficult to achieve a good in flight photo.

010621                                                 Sharp-shinned Hawk

This was the third location that this raptor chose to eat what was left of a songbird at Heron Cove, as well as the best photo op.  Two Blue Jays led me to it, as they were nearly overhead.  While the hawk was in the area, most potential food sources were low to the ground, except two Mourning Doves that were motionless on another tree.  After this shot, I politely thanked the subject for its co-operation and retreated so it could dine unimpeded.