The mighty and the midgets

There was a Cooper's Hawk on the property this morning, sneaking around and apparently looking for its favorite prey: little birds. It first appeared over my shoulder and before I could get my binoculars up it had swooped by at a medium level and, gaining altitude, disappeared just over the treetops. Later I saw it (or another one) heading back out and around along the edge of the woods moving fast and at a good distance. I'm calling it Cooper's because it had a long tail and fairly broad wings; both were, by size, females of the species.

If the Cooper's was the mighty of my title, the midgets were the Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warbler both of which seem to be tentatively setting up territories. The only other warbler seen was Yellow-rumped but there was a brief visit from a singing Red-eyed Vireo, a forest bird that is a regular visitor but never seems to stay and nest.

A Greater Yellowlegs accompanied by a half dozen Least Sandpipers was in the pond at low tide this afternoon, presenting yet another contrast in size, this time between sandpipers. The biggest local sandpiper is, of course, the Willet which was also in evidence.

Our two wrens -- Carolina and House -- are singing much less right now which suggests that they have just-hatched young. Or the persistently singing males have given up and are trying their luck elsewhere. The Carolina is the earliest nester around here, not counting the Great Horned Owl back in the woods.

Eric Salzman