A Hermit & A Hawk

November 06 08

Autumn leaves are falling freely now – probably about 55% down where we are, more nearby. That still leaves quite a lot of color, ranging from blazing reds of swamp maples to the silvery brushes displayed by phragmites reeds. Yellows, oranges and tints of rust, auburn and purple dominate the wider vista, mainly because of the oaks which prevail. An array of greens punctuate the whole, from the few deciduous trees yet to start changing on through to the multi-hued evergreens.

Migrations is in full swing. A pair of Black-eyed Juncos appeared among the groundlings to herald the cool season on October 28. On that same day what looked to be a Hermit Thrush flew from the ground by the creek to a pine tree branch where it maneuvered to keep out of sight. It was gone when I had retrieved binoculars for a closer look.

The following day, the feeding area was briefly graced by a visit from a Tufted Titmouse which nervously grabbed a seed or two and flitted off to a higher perch three or four times. It, or a pal, returned two days later for a similar quick visit.

On Halloween, I confirmed the Hermit Thrush, adding a new bird to my list and raising the lifetime number of confirmed bird species at 3 Belton to 87. I had spotted the bird a couple of times since the first observation, but on Oct 31 I walked out and from about 15 feet watched it pull a fat worm out of the ground, just like a Robin would. It then flitted to the pine tree branch not far away – right in the same area I had first seen it, next to the vegetable garden by the creek. I was able to get my binos and spend some time, approaching within 12 feet of the bird which watched me carefully, but never budged from its perch. I shifted to several angles and observed for a good 15 minutes noting details which allowed the positive ID. It was quite relaxed, even squinting its eyes and hunkering its head which puffed its neck feathers, almost like it was ready to sleep – not unlike the behavior a human might show after a heavy lunch.

In the last few days a few small flocks of robins have rushed through the area and there appears to be an upswing in mourning doves – a dozen along the creek this morning, six either side.

Confirmation of the turn toward winter: A stroll on November 3 at Belmont Lake turned up the first sighting of seasonal cold weather visitors. There were three American Coots, 30 Hooded Mergansers, a pair of Northern Shovelers, a pair of Gadwalls and three pair of Eurasian Widgeons, one of the more uncommon visitors reported to summer in Iceland. On November 6, three Hooded Mergansers arrived on Belton Pond for brief foray around 8:45 am. Two males and a female dove repeatedly, but were gone after less than 15 minutes.

Their visit was overshadowed by the scatter of nearly a dozen feeding birds about two hours later. Two or three crashed against the upstairs living room window in their haste to escape what appeared to be a Cooper’s Hawk. It swooped in from on high and as it pulled up just above the ground, flattened itself against the screened window not five feet in front of me. It was gone in a flash, but I momentarily had a full frontal view with its wings spread across the screen at eye level. I grabbed binos and stepped out to see it perhaps twenty feet away and 15 feet up the sweet gum tree at the front of the house. It swung away to the northeast on my appearance and skimmed the rooftop across the road as it disappeared.


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