I'm a Bad Birdwatcher

As y'all know, I've seen a lot of birds lately and I've been taking plenty of bird pictures (some more successful than others). On Monday, I did some research online to identify the Gulls, Geese and Ducks I saw on Sunday in Commonwealth park. While I was browsing, I came across some book reviews for How to Be a (Bad) Birdwatcher. It sounded interesting so I checked it out from the library.

I've never considered myself to be a birdwatcher of any sort. In fact, I was never particularly interested in birds until recently. It's Sami's fault. He loves birds of all kinds, especially ducks and penguins. His love for birds has rubbed off on me and now I find myself fascinated by them.

Red-Tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis

Yesterday after work, I walked though the powerline park and saw this hawk. I know the picture is a little fuzzy, but I just loved how he was perched above the "danger" sign.

Danger is right. A minute or so after I first saw him, he screeched and dove after some unfortunate little critter. I think he missed the first time, because he repeated the scene a second time a few minutes later.

Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus

These cute little birds are very common here, but I have a very hard time getting a picture of one. They seem like they're always hopping around in the shadows inside a blackberry bush or something.

Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna (f)

Doesn't everyone love hummingbirds?

Somehow it surprises me that these little birds can survive here in the cool rainy winters. But they do, and you can see them out in the tops of the trees far away from any feeders.

Another picture of the hummingbird here.