We recently set up a hammock, under the trellis by our little waterfall pond
and it adjacent to our bird feeder. I have come to fully embrace hammock
birding as the total way to bird watch. I was having a hammock moment, sort
of snoozing in and out when the robin alarm calls went off. I drowsily
opened my eyes and perched on the trellis, almost but not quite overhead was
an accipiter. I stayed very still, even when the hawk lifted its tail and
sent a white wad not far from my head. The Hawk was partially obscured by
the grape leaves but it was a great look at its talons, tail and underside.
After perching for 5 minutes or so the hawk took off out of view, made a
sharp bank turn in and out of view in the bushes, obviously in pursuit of
something but I could not see what. The littler birds, juncos and chickadees
were in a state of agitation for quite some time after that, jumping
suddenly, twitching more than normal, taking cover at the slightest rustle
from a squirrel or the wind.
Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com


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