Hermit Thrush

I had been seeing this bird in this Beautyberry bush just outside our kitchen window.

Staring back at me not unlike in the shot below.

But every time I went for the camera, and was lining up the shot, a White-throated Sparrow would chase it away.

Every time but this one.

The exorcist bird ... pretty cool that it can turn its head that far.

I wanted a shot of it eating a berry. Maybe next time ...

🐦  🐦  🐦  🐦  🐦

Hermit Thrush and American Robin are in the same family, but have very different habits. The Robin is a gregarious species, as shown in the Robins post, there were probably thirty or so birds in the yard and visiting the Dogwood. The Hermit, as the name suggests, is a solitary species. We've had as many as two in the yard at a time. But the both enjoy berries.

Sparrow Season

In the previous Sparrow Season post I noted that there were two more possible species, and that I would let you know if either showed up.

This one showed up.

A Fox Sparrow. I was under the Beautyberry bush, and I spotted it once a White-throated Sparrow finally chased the Hermit Thrush away.

I managed a couple of pictures, none all that great. And after this brief encounter I've not seen it, or any others, since. Which is unusual, as once one shows up the others are never far behind. 

And Then There Were None

Well, technically one.

This one:

A Cooper's Hawk.

It showed up, and all the other birds disappeared.

🦅  🦅  🦅  🦅  🦅

Thanks to Sandra Keller for confirming my ID.

Robins

Just off our deck, we have a Dogwood, which replaced a Service Berry (relocated) which replaced a Sweetgum (taken down), has been a favorite destination of American Robins this fall.

There are at least five in the image above. The image below shows why.

It's the berries.

Very yummy if you're a Robin it seems. The flock pretty much de-burried the tree.

Hood Ornament

On my walk to the Thompson-Wright Preserve I came across this:

And I've nothing more to say.

Hail

I noted the cloud build up in the Thompson-Wright Revisited post. 

I'm happy to report we made it home before the assault commenced.

While at the Preserve I received an alert that severe thunderstorms were on the way.

And so they were.

The report from my weather station. Extreme.

The leaves in the image are about a half inch wide at their widest.

This went on for a good ten minutes.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Crazy.

This was the most significant hail storm I've witnessed. And the wort I hope hits our place. I can't image what a storm with golf ball sized hail would be like.

Although the weather geek in me thinks it would be cool to see. As long as it was somewhere else, and not here.

Thompson-Wright Revisted

I noted in the Thompson-Wright post that that visit would not be my last. And true to my word I visited again this past Saturday, this time to just to explore. And Patty came with me.    

I walked from my house to the Preserve, and while I was waiting for Patty to join me I noticed this sign. Specifically I noticed the nails. Either this is very hard wood, a weak hammerer, or there is play left for the tree to grow out. I suppose I'll need to check back in a few years to find out.

The sign was on a sand road leading into the western side of the Preserve.

But today we explored the eastern side. Note the clear blue skies.

Not sure what this strap/belt is for, but it has been there for some time.

My old Kentucky home .. it looked as if the color had been sprayed on.

We've noticed this pattern in oak leaves before while wandering in the Pines.

Patty drew a connection to the fungal pattern. Coincidence?

Clouds are rolling in ...

Piney engineering.

The roads are surprisingly well maintained. Perhaps because of off road vehicle use? We heard, but did not see, said vehicles during our explorations.

A road not taken, at least not by us. It may connect up with South Firelane Road. 

It was obvious that maintenance had been done on the roads/trails. It was also obvious that it had be awhile since it was done.

Not clear if this was 'maintenance', accidental damage, or the work of some critter.

Along the northern edge of the Preserve is a deep ditch. The bridge built by the Piney engineers spans it, and the Road not Taken traverses it. And the above image is of an old water control station that connects the ditch to the Burrs Mill Creek, the water flowing under the sand road. I wonder the last time anyone used it tp actually control the flow (it was wide open when we passed).

The end of the road (and thickening clouds).

Or at least a gap, the road bisected by the Burrs Mill Creek.

The view from the other side. An approximately mile and a half detour.

The Creek the road I live on is named for.

A nice way to spend a morning. And I doubt this will be our last visit.