Male Western Bluebird near my house 2-3-14

Western Bluebird at Eldorado, NM

Sharp-shinned Hawk series in my yard - Santa Fe, NM 2-3-14

One of his favorite perches. Note the have-a-heart trap in back ground. 

Keeping out a sharp eye

Literally walking the grounds!

Staring at back door - pitiful!

Getting ready to cough up something nasty

Starting to regurgitate - note that great black tongue

Next few pics - working it up!

Almost there

Oh YUK!!

Shake it off

Not done yet

Yikes

One more fling

Man that was something

Okay, back to hunting

Mew and California Gull at Alameda Open Space in Albuquerque - 2-2-14

Adult California Gull.

Note darker mantle and larger size than ring-billeds, and  both red and black markings on bill.  This is at the Alameda Open Space on the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque. I did not get a picture of the adult Mew Gull. It was nestled in the middle of a large flock of ring-billeds. It is smaller and has a small all yellow bill and dark eye. 

Pied-billed Grebe at Alameda Open Space in Albuquerque

Pair of Wood Ducks at Alameda Open Space, Albuquerque

These were two of over ONE-HUNDRED Wood Ducks on a pond, which has a three wonder

Canada Goose early in morning at Alameda Open Space.

Pygmy Nuthatch near downtown Albuquerque

After seeing the Mew Gull I drove over to a Marriott Hotel (near downtown) where a Pine Warbler had been seen the day before. Despite spending over two hours, and despite the warbler having been seen that morning, I managed to miss it. However, I did get some interesting pics of this out-of-place Pygmy Nuthatch, including this one of it eating a pinyon  pine nut!

Evening Grosbeak at backyard feeder - 1-27-14

Male Evening Grosbeak with female behind. These are the first grosbeaks I've seen at the feeders since last fall.  It's been a mild winter and they are scarce so far.

Interesting Common Raven behavior, plus Ferruginous Hawk and Townsend's Solitaire, Santa Fe County, NM - 1-26-26

The always stunning Ferruginous Hawk

The always dapper Townsend's Solitaire. This is a common winter resident in Pinyon/Juniper forest (5,500 to 8,000 feet).

Common Raven striking a handsome pose

All puffed up!

Unfortunate wind gust!

Interacting with each other

Bill touching

Preening each other

Preening each other

Preening each other

Preening each other

"Hey, someone is looking, be cool."

Grabbing each other's bills!

 Tender bill tapping

Squabbling!

More squabbling!

These two Common Ravens were hanging out at a gas station and were waiting for folks to stuff their garbage from their vehicles in an overstuffed trash can. While they were waiting they alternately preened each other, fought, tapped their bills together, did feeding behavior, and just plain posed. Interesting. Last I saw them they were flying off with what was left of someone's road food :-(

Western Scrub-Jay in my yard near Santa Fe, NM 1-24-14

This was taken just after dawn and this jay was growing impatient for some peanut butter suet! Western Scrub-Jay may be split again one day with the intermountain race becoming Woodhouse's Jay.

Western Meadowlark view from the bottom! 1-21-14

Western Meadowlark

Took this shot in southern Santa Fe County this morning. I like it because it shows the nice whitish flanks they acquire by winter (more streaking in summer). It also shows the yellow malar (typically white in Eastern Meadowlark).