Saturday, May 2, 2009



red-shouldered hawk
Buteo lineatus

The past two Mays, we noticed a resident hawk swooping down on the rec trail, much to the surprise and delight of tourists and ourselves.

This one we named Jerry. Apparently, Jerry found a mate. Within a month of this photo, we noticed quite a commotion at the end of 5th St. in the trees with a decent nest and squawking, hungry young.

Can you tell we like to give people-names to animals we see regularly? Last year it was Sylvester who liked to perch on the Monterey cypress within view from our place on the rec trail. Unfortunately, the crows and gulls pestered it until it flew away every day before sunset.

I find it fascinating that birds seem to have regular rhythms and preferences, as much as I do.