As I've told a few of you, I love crows but usually find photographing them difficult. They have this way of appearing and looking cool when I don't have my camera with me. So I run inside and grab my camera, only to come out and find no crows. But today was different! I was outside and one flew down across the street and said its little crow hello of "Caw, Caw". I ran indoors and grabbed my camera, and guess what? The crow was still there!
So I made the most of it and took tons of photos. The crow nicely posed, cawed, and even had a snack.
Caw Caw!
As I said before, this crow had a snack when he found a worm in the water. I realized as I took this pic that I'd never seen a crow eating before. I was surprised to see it acting like the many robins I've watched, listening for and pulling out a worm.
I like the reflection in this photo. It gives the illusion that this crow is in the middle of a tug of war over that worm.
After the crow had a snack, it flew up into a tree. So I followed it to take a few more shots. You can see how sharp the beak is here:
This last one isn't a crow, but I liked the photo so I thought I'd include it. Look at those eyes! It's a grackle, which you might remember from one of my previous blog posts: Getting to know the grackles. Wow, looking back at that old blog post reminded me of how intense a grackle's eyes can be!
This one looks really focused on something. I'm glad that "something" wasn't me! Grackles mean business.
So, have you guys been doing any birdwatching now that spring is here? I'd be interested to hear about the kinds of birds you've been seeing. The bird species seem to vary a lot depending on where you are and which ones are migrating through.
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| Nice legs! They look so funny with the reflection, like he's wearing a pair of capris. |
After the crow had a snack, it flew up into a tree. So I followed it to take a few more shots. You can see how sharp the beak is here:
So, have you guys been doing any birdwatching now that spring is here? I'd be interested to hear about the kinds of birds you've been seeing. The bird species seem to vary a lot depending on where you are and which ones are migrating through.
Spring hasn't quite sprung out here yet, we're lucky to have a day over 50 but i have started seeing birds and the occasional squirrel.
ReplyDeleteDex ~ Hey, I just sent you something today on Pinterest! So, that's a coincidence to hear from you. Oh, spring doesn't seem to be entirely here yet either. Although, at least we got a ton of rain today instead of the snow that was semi-predicted. Can you believe that? The possibility of snow in April! I'd love to have a day that was 50°! Come to think of it, you guys have probably just now been losing the snow on the ground. I'm half-kidding, because I saw the reports of how much snow you got recently.
DeleteThere have been plenty of birds around here lately, as well as squirrels. And I've seen the footprints of other animals the past few days, so they're definitely out there.
I've seen a red-tailed hawk getting dinner in my yard twice in the past 2 weeks! I'd only seen it once before in the past 14 years we've been here. I'm almost afraid to fill my bird feeder now since the first time he swooped down and bounced off our bedroom window, grabbing one of the little birds that come to eat. Then yesterday I was standing out in the yard, muttering expletives at a squirrel that I know chewed a hole in my shed and is living in my Halloween decorations....and here came Mr Hawk who knocked the squirrel out of the tree and stood there on the ground with its wings spread (squeezing it?)for a good minute before flying off.
ReplyDeleteLisa ~ Cool! I like red-tailed hawks. The watching them get dinner part isn't so fun, though. That can get a little grisly! Sounds like you know. Wow, that actually sounds pretty scary, having a hawk bounce off your window. That's a big bird to be bouncing off the glass! That could mess up your window.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I know the "muttering expletives at a squirrel" part all too well. ;) Just out of curiosity, which of your Halloween decorations was the squirrel living in? A pumpkin? I swear, squirrels can make their way in anywhere. Try having one chew its way into where you're actually living! I got to deal with that once... I don't think I can ever like a squirrel after that.
Wow, so did the hawk take the squirrel with it? Or did it just eat a bit of it and fly away? I'm not sure about what hawks leave behind as far as carcasses. I've learned a little about what other animals leave behind, gross as it is. After finding part of a bird in the yard, I learned that that part being left meant a fox had killed it. I'm starting to get up on what all these clues mean. It's good to know what kind of animals are around. Sounds like this hawk did you a favor!
Caw! Lovely photos of this stately raven from the saintly days of yore! ;)
ReplyDeleteI forget, have I told you about the crow I've 'adopted'?
Chris ~ Thanks! Yes, you did. The one you're feeding? You named him Edgar, right? Something Poe related. Is he still coming around?
DeleteAh, good. I was momentarily afraid I hadn't! Yeah, he's still coming around, and enjoying himself greatly. He's been getting mice the last week or so!
DeleteChris ~ Really? Crows eat mice? They always seemed like too large of a prey. I think of more owls getting the mice. But you guys might have larger crows than we have. About how large would you say he is?
DeleteHe's a pretty big bird (or she is. Still not sure on the gender). He hasn't been hunting them though (not that I'm aware of). Some mice got into the house, so after a few traps were set, there were some rodent flavoured snacks for Edgar. :)
DeleteChris ~ I wondered if there was a way to tell the gender of a crow after reading your comment. I just looked that up and read that there isn't really. Pretty much everyone said they look the same except for one person who says the males are slightly larger. And that doesn't help much when you're seeing a lone crow. It's interesting, with many birds there are such obvious differences.
DeleteOh, I see. So you set the mouse-filled traps outside for Edgar. I'm assuming you saw him taking the mice? A lot of critters would have been happy to help you with that! There have been times I've tossed/sprayed with the hose a dead bird or rodent I've found outside. Just moved it out of the way to dispose of later and when I go back something has taken it. And that's appreciated! Although, it makes you wonder what's walking around out there...
Oh, that's a shame! Well Edgar is quite a big crow, and a friend that's accompanied him lately is a bit smaller, so perhaps my new crow is a male
DeletePretty much, except I only took the bodies out for him, and the traps stayed where they were inside.
Yes, I've seen him a few times, snapping up half the mouse in his beak and flying away to his nest, wherever it may be. :)
Chris ~ I'm kind of hoping it's a male, since you named it Edgar. :) It messes with your mind if you find out you assigned a different gender to an animal. Like, there's this neighborhood cat that I thought was female but it turns out it's a male cat. Or so its owner says...
DeleteOh, OK mystery solved then! It's pretty clear if you've actually seen him flying away with the mice. It seems that crows like to take their food elsewhere to eat it. I saw one the other day pick up a worm and fly to the top of a tree to eat it.
We must have been separated at birth...I love crows too (and Ravens)! In fact, my character at the haunted house where I started working is based on crow folklore. :)
ReplyDeleteMidnyte Reader ~ There seem to be a lot of us crow/raven people, at least if Pinterest is any indication. :) I feel like I've seen a picture of your crow character! Did you post a pic of yourself in costume on Twitter? How does your character at the haunted house behave? Are you perched high above people as they walk under you? That could be scary. I'd be interested to hear more about the haunted house!
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