Hawk visit ...

The redpoll feeder was raided today by this young Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus. The redpolls scattered in a sudden rush and then there was a flash of movement, followed by this hawk calmly feeding on one of the hapless birds.


It was not the least bit intimidated, letting me come within 10 meters to get this shot.

'Buddy' the pest ...

'Buddy', our red squirrel has been such a frequent visitor to the garden that it's hard to decide whether he is pet or pest.  Here he's raiding the chickadee feeder. Nothing is out of his grasp anymore. We think it might be time for a cross-town drive for 'Buddy'. He bullies the redpolls at their feeder; uses our shed as his winter quarters, and we think he's found a mate. So, perhaps the sooner the better.