Charismatic and athletic

Flock of Bohemian Waxwings

The birds have been rather uncooperative in the last little while. They are either perched at the tree tops, or doing a quick flyby, although sometimes in large flocks.  The squirrels on the other hand, are highly visible lately and much more active now that the weather is a bit warmer.

I love watching the antics of squirrels.  Squirrels are so very athletic.  They have to be, at the breakneck speeds they often manage.  They are also charismatic and fun.  If you want a real chuckle, just watch two squirrels chase each other around, and up and down the trunk of a tree for what seems like forever.  I have yet to capture that on camera, but I'm hoping I will some day soon.

Below are some photos of a squirrel running down the trunk of a 50 foot pine at break neck speed.  If you look closely at the first photo, you will see that the squirrel has only one limb in touch with the trunk. In the second photo he is leaping from one broken branch down to the next, like a trapeze artist.  When I looked at this series of photos I immediately got an uneasy sensation in the pit of my stomach.  Good grief, this tiny creature was completely defying gravity with what seemed like total ease.

one limp in contact with tree

A short hop down?

Let's just fly

I don't know why this one was racing down the tree, nor why he immediately jumped to another tree about five feet from the first.  It's possible he saw a hawk or falcon, or maybe an intruder in his territory.  Although squirrels can be aggressive and territorial, they also seem to enjoy just racing up and down a tree, just for fun.

If I walk real slow, I can often surprise these little guys when they finally take a break from their frantic racing around.  Each squirrel seems to react differently when I do.

I think I badly startled the one directly below.

Startled

Uncertain

 The squirrel above is uncertain, his tail is raised in alarm but he still isn't sure if I'm a threat.

I'm outa here

 This squirrel isn't going to hang around to see if I'm a threat, he is going up. While the squirrel below, seems to have decided it has teeth, that I'm in his territory and he'll defend it.

Aggressive

Curious but cautious

Poser

Of the last two squirrels, one was simply curious and watched me watch it, and the last just posed real pretty for several photos before he decided to leave.

Enjoy,
Guni



 

Among the Bohemians

Eating snow

I was determined to get some closer shots of the Bohemian waxwings flocking in my neighborhood this week.  I was also hoping to catch some of their clownish antics in addition to their beautiful coloring.  I spotted them almost immediately in the same location as last time, but this time I followed their flight into a part of the neighborhood I have never been.

I was astonished by the sheer number of mountain ash trees here.  There was at least half a dozen healthy trees, containing an abundance of fruit, within an area containing only three or four yards.  There was also plenty of shelter; places that the birds could escape to in the event of the arrival of a predator.

Waxwing greed

This feeder is mine:)

Bohemian waxwing scarfing it down

Beautiful pose

However these waxwings were not the only creatures enjoying the abundance in this tiny area of the neighborhood.

House sparrow female

Squirrel

The squirrels were chasing each other around this tree.  Unfortunately I didn't capture the action.  Next time perhaps.

Red-breasted nuthatch

The Nuthatches and Blue jays were enjoying the many feeders, that are also about in this same area.  This nuthatch was sneaking up on the feeder at the end of the fence.  He was taking the long route, first clinging to the stucko on the side of the house, then the window frame, before landing on the fence. 

The biggest surprise of the day, however, were the Pine Grosbeaks that I spotted among the Bohemian waxwings.

I only spotted the Pine Grosbeaks, because one of the males was singing a most delightful and unique song.

Two female Pine Grosbeaks

The Pine Grosbeaks were not eating the fruit.  They were after seed and unopened buds at the end of branches, which didn't grow last year.

Pine Grosbeak female

Female nibbling on a seed

The females are dull in their color, a sort of yellow green and gray; a nice camouflage color, but still beautiful.  The male below was very bright red, except for his black wings.  He really stood out against the blue of the sky and the naked branches of the trees.

Pine Grosbeak male

Male Grosbeak taking flight

The Grosbeaks are very shy.  I would have loved to get a closer view and photo.  I'm hoping to see them again soon for another photographic opportunity.

Enjoy,
Susan

Squirrel antics

One of the species of wildlife that I have been seeing a lot since I have moved, and occasionally before that, is the Squirrel.  While they can at times be annoying and sometimes scare small birds into hiding with their alarm calls, they can also be vastly entertaining.