I haven’t caught a good look at them yet because of my schedule even though the darn nest is right in the front yard overlooking a little pond, which due to the drought, is dry.
I can hear them from time to time, and they sound like red shouldered hawks, which are a pleasure to have around.
But my black snakes had best watch out and stay under cover, because this species of hawk is fond of eating snake meat.
I hope to get better photos because from the sound of it, there are chicks up there. The problem is the nest is built like an ice cream cone with a deep depression in it and until the birds get larger, they can’t be seen deep inside the cup.
Oh well, I like my privacy, too.
And it is a bad time not to have my trusty old camera and lens any more. Since it has been gone, I have had, right in my front yard, almost every favorite type of bird and critter. Nesting pileated woodpeckers, sapsuckers, painted buntings, bluebirds, you name it. All produced full broods of happy, healthy chicks, hanging their heads out of nest holes ten, fifteen minutes at a time, as if mocking my lack of a telephoto lens. An otter bounced about the yard right in front of me like it was on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom waiting for the videographer. It would be just my luck to have an Ivorybill show up and moon me while I fumble with this phone for a shot.
And when I do come across a good camera, then it will be back to Carolina wrens and squirrels. Just kidding, of course. A rainy year brings egrets and wood storks and wood ducks, and animals seeking higher ground. A dry year brings animals moving across the land from waterhole to pond to slough looking for moisture. Every day here is a surprise and wonder, if you want it to be, keep your eyes open, use your ears, and take the time to open the day gratefully like the gift it is. But it will not always be the gift you expect or plan for.