Further update on the Cooper's Hawk family

How's this for a "baby"?!

(This photo was taken this morning.)

A Cooper's hawk goes from hatching to flying in about four weeks and I am astonished with the changes I have witnessed in this short period of time.

I estimate that about 4 1/2 weeks have passed since the four eggs hatched and two days ago I saw one of the "baby" hawks flying.  The nest is in a tall, mature Acacia tree that is one of many trees growing in a row alongside a fence. The young bird flew out of one tree, made a fairly large horizontal arc and landed in another tree about three trees over.   I have seen several other short flights and one was a bit surprising to the hawk as it landed on a window ledge.  After taking several seconds to get its bearings, it turned around and flew off.

They exercise their wings like this one is doing (above) and this activity is called "branching".  They also call out in a similar way to the parents but with softer voices. :-)

Related captions are below each image. (You can click on a photo to enlarge it).  

Taken on July 10th.

Taken on July 13th.  You can see a big change in just three days!

Also taken on July 13th.

Taken on July 15th.

Taken on July 18th.  The bird has taken on a more mature, majestic look to my mind.

Taken on July 19th.

Taken on July 19th.

Taken on July 19th.  

A young hawk is on a branch above the parent who is on the nest.  You can see the comparable sizes!

A few very short videos follow.  In the second to last one you will hear the cries of a parent about to arrive and the subsequent cries and commotion of the young hawks as they realize that food is coming.

For video 1, click here

For video 2, click here

For video 3, click here

For video 4, click here 

More Moths in the Neighbourhood

I never thought that I would find such a variety of moths (with many uncommon ones) in my neighbourhood.

Here are new sightings I have made.  As you can see, moths come in all shapes, colours, and sizes!

Nessus Sphinx Moth, amphion floridensis

Banded Tussock Moth, halysidota tessellaris

Maple Callus Borer, synanthedon acerni

Large Lace-border Moth, scopula limboundata

Grapeleaf skeletonizer, harrisina americana

Squash Vine Borer Moth, melitta curcurbitae

Carrot Seed Moth, sitochroa palealis

Update on the Cooper's Hawk family

My goodness the hawk nestlings are growing very quickly!  I would see those small white heads showing above the nest's edge and assume their body size but - wow - those chicks are big now!

I read that they go from hatching to flying within about 4 weeks.  There are four of them and they are now sitting up on branches and exercising their wings.  Next week I may see their first flights.

Here are some photos and three short videos.  I hope you enjoy them. :-)

Video 1: click here

Video 2: click here

Video 3:  click here

Moths in the Neighbourhood

As I continue to explore my neighbourhood during this pandemic, I am seeing many insect species.  So many, in fact, that I will do separate posts for moths, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, and miscellaneous others.  

You will notice that I may identify an insect with the modifier "possible".  This indicates a case where I have submitted the photo to iNaturalist for identification but have not had a confirmation yet.  I'll update the post as information comes in.

Here are the moths I have seen:

Possible Clover Looper Moth (Caenurgina crassiuscula)

American Dagger Moth (acronicta americana)

Eight-spotted Forester Moth (alypia octomaculata)

Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)

Grass Veneer Moth (Genus: crambus)

Possible Soft-lined Wave Moth (scopula inductata)

Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth

(macaria pustularia)

Grape Plume Moth (geina periscelidactylus)

Three More Videos of the Hawk Nestlings

For another look at the nestlings, here are three new "Cooper's Hawk with nestlings" videos:

Video 1 - click here. 

 One nestling preens and at the end another little head pops up and yawns. (31 seconds)

Video 2 - click here.

Nestlings jostle about in the nest on a windy day. I see at least three distinct heads and maybe a fourth? (21 seconds)

Video 3 - click here.

Parent feeds the nestlings. (24 seconds)

A New Cooper's Hawk Family

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that a pair of Cooper's Hawks took up residence in a cemetery here in Saint-Laurent. 

After occupying a nest high in a conifer, they abandoned it, and several days later, started building a new one in a deciduous tree in another area of the cemetery.  I have been monitoring their activities ever since I first spotted them and to my delight, they have successfully hatched out nestlings.  

Here are a few photos and a very short video.   

This nest and these hardy birds have weathered two strong wind/rain storms and a construction crew working on a building only a few meters from the tree!

Note: captions are below each photo.  You can enlarge a photo by clicking on it.

Starting the process!

A portrait of a handsome bird!

How cute is that little face?!

One nestling is on the left and there is a partial view of another on the far right.

Sitting in the nest!

Baby and parent.

To see a 25 second video, click here.

Stay tuned!

To See A Mockingbird (And Cousins)

During recent decades, the Mockingbird has gradually expanded its range northward.  I have rarely seen one though and so the other morning when I approached my neighbourhood birding site, I was astonished to see one in full view.  It perched on a tree stump and then flew to a mowed field where it ran back and forth like a roadrunner.  Then it flew into a berry bearing bush and I managed a shot.

The next day I heard singing in a tree adjacent to that field and it was clearly a mimicking song.  I was sure the Mockingbird was the source so it was to my surprise that I found out it was a Brown Thrasher that was singing!  This is a "cousin" to the Mockingbird and although I have seen a few, I have never heard one sing.

That same day, as I progressed down my usual path towards a small grove of trees, I heard another mimicking song.  Ok, so was this the Mockingbird or the Thrasher?  Neither!  It was another "cousin" - the Catbird. They all belong to the family "Mimidae".

Here are the three cousins:

Northern Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

Below is a 40 second video of this Thrasher singing:

Gray Catbird

Below is a 40 second video of the Catbird singing (he is well hidden in the bushes but you'll see a glimpse of movement towards the end):