Wildlife Notes from Coldwater Farm
Common Blackhawk
At noon today the Black Hawk nesting in the Cottonwood grove back of the stock ponds flew over chasing a Red-tailed Hawk. Sorry I missed filming the hawk, but he was moving low and fast when he passed me. Minutes later the Black-Hawk shot by hot on the tail of a Green-backed Heron. There’s probably much more going on that I don’t see. Click for more on this Black Hawk.
Other events for April:
- The first bullfrog bellow (4/30).
- The pair of Gray Foxes has moved on.
- A solitary javelina stopped in.
- Longest tailed Tiger Swallowtail (Papillo multicaudata) I’ve ever seen (4/29, 30). Tails last only a few days.
Tiger Swallowtail
Bird Arrivals:
- The first nesting attempt by grackles (too noisy, they get chased off every spring).
- Belted Kingfisher
- Black-headed Grosbeak.
- Black Phoebe (Three for the lawns, and several for the ponds).
- Lesser Goldfinch (not the occasional winter visitors, a real flock).
- Summer Tanager.
- Lazuli Bunting.
- Western Kingbird.
- Yellow-breasted Chat (with a new call that sounds like my cat meowing at the door).
- Yellow Warbler.
- And more that I glimpse briefly here and there.
More on Birds:
- Only two ducks and four American Coots remain, down from 200 in January.
- The Barn Owl was out early yesterday evening (4/29). I was glad to see him. Two weeks ago a large tree blew down frightening both the owl and me. Glad he stuck around.
Barn Owl
