Before I’d even had a chance to look at yesterday’s pictures, Grant was urging me to abandon this morning’s chores to go outside and take some more.
It’s getting a bit out of hand and I’ve looked at so many now, things are starting to blur.
But everything changes, from minute to minute as the day progresses with a great variety of light and leaf conditions.
Our morning routine includes Grant taking his “walkers” out for their morning constitutional. Sometimes, one or the other decides to extend their exploration, but most days after 15 minutes they are all back in and ready for another long snooze till lunch.
A few days ago, Grant was still outside after the walkers had all returned. He was watching something and he waved me to join him.
We’d become aware that a pair of Cooper’s hawks have made this their hunting ground.
This is the down side of having seed trays.
The birds that get taken are numerous enough, so it’s not as if we are endangering a species, but I always feel bad when I see there’s been another killing.
Crows gang up against hawks, interfering with their hunt to protect their own flock.
Blue jays, also Corvids,exhibit the same behaviour and they seem to have turned it into rather a game.
One is always aware of bird sounds when outside and the jays, like their cousins are quite raucous, so you always know when they are on alert.
This day, we watched a number of Jays taunting two hawks, chasing them from the pine trees, out over the fields and back. A dangerous game.
A couple of times one of the hawks nearly got hold of a tormentor.
Next day, as he washed dishes, Grant saw a sudden shower of feathers drift down from the roof.
But I’m fairly certain it was a dove, as usual.
The Cooper’s hawk is fairly small and unlikely to target a cat. We have never seen an eagle or larger hawk here although they are certainly around.
Otherwise I would worry about the walkers.
That is worry more about them.
Lily assures me she can take care of herself.
We laugh at the way she always holds one foot aloft. I asked her if she has commitment issues:
“Not at all! I just keep myself ready to flee in any direction at the first sign of trouble.”
And the truth is, it would be hard to keep up with Lily in flight mode. Aged about 12, she still dashes around at top speed as she did when she was a year old.
She used to hurl herself at the wall in front of a staircase, bounce off it and land halfway up the stairs where she continued her headlong rush.
As far as I can recall, she has never knocked anything over. She is very focused!
After a very foggy start, yesterday,
…it wasn’t long before the Sun appeared.
But even when another layer of cloud moved in
it only enhanced our views.
Every time I looked outside I exclaimed “Really?”
Such was the intensity of colours as well as the variation.
We have a small airport here in Cambridge and today they are having a “fly-in” with leaf-peeping flights on offer, with the funds going to support the club.
They could scarcely have a better day for it.
We have a lot of air traffic these days!
How many ways can you look at the same subject?
It turns out the ways are infinite, as you will never have the same view twice.
While it seems repetitious to keep posting them, I am compelled to.
It’s just too good not to share.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your evening musing.
Joanna
I’m glad you keep sharing – don’t stop! If I lived there I’d spend far too much time tree and bird gazing!
Where I live, we have Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, and Owls. They only take small mammals and chicks as a rule, but have made a big impact on the population of Water Voles locally. They also eliminated Dormice from the east of England before 1900, almost making them extinct in the UK.
Best wishes, Pete.
Wonderful photos. Such a pretty cat too! 🙂
Yes, I also noticed Lily’s one foot in the air straight away – I like her reason for that (or maybe she’s just a lady)! You’re absolutely right … your views are too good not to share – thank you for that, I enjoy them tremendously!