Hi all,
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Someone once told me that while some predatory instincts are hardwired in bird and mammal predators, the courage to attack usually must be learned.
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Here is a series of photos I took in?the Snohomish River plane of a young Red-tail and a snake that seem to illustrate that point.? (The Red?appeared to keep losing it's nerve and failing to attack despite the snake's small size).
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http://ednewbold.com/sightings.html
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This event happened on our way back from Spencer Island in Everett. (past and behind Langus Waterfront Park) where Delia and I compiled this list of birds:
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1. Green Heron? (on the Snohomish)
2 Mourning Dove
3 Eurasian Starling
4 Cedar Waxwing
5 American Goldfinch
6 Barn Swallow???? --glad to see all the young ones
7 Red-tailed Hawk
8. American Robin
9. Killdeer
10. Mallard???? ---our only duck
11. Common Yellowthroat
12.? Rough-winged Swallow
13.? House Finch
14. Willow Flycatcher?--Many, many young birds
15. Song Sparrow
16. Red-winged Blackbird
17. Clliff Swallow
18. Great Blue Heron
19. Violet-green Swallow
20. Black-capped Chickadee
21. Least Sandpiper???? ?-- hundreds
22. Bank Swallow?? --first we've seen there
23. Yellow Warbler
24.? Spotted Towhee
25.? Downy Woodpecker
26.? Osprey
27. Bewick's Wren
28? Wilson's Warbler
29. American Crow
30.? Bald Eagle
31.? Long-billed Dowitcher? --a dozen looking gorgeous in formation
32.? Greater Yellowlegs? about 6
33.? Cooper's Hawk
34.? Spotted Sandpiper
35? Peregrine Falcon
36. Lesser Yellowlegs?? about a dozen
37? Western Sandpiper?? not many
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Nothing?rare but a really pleasant set of birds in a really beautiful?backdrop and we thought if somebody dragged a scope up there they might find more pipers.
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Thanks all,?Ed Newbold?? ednewbold1 at yahoo.com? residential Beacon Hill? where our back V-g Swallows still haven't fledged.
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