Northern Cardinal and White-throated Sparrow
With overnight temperatures below freezing, and 32 degrees when I started my hike, all of the standing water and mud on the trails was frozen. It was cold, but better than sloshing through the muck. With everyting frozen, birds were congregating at feeders and on the ground below the feeders.
Northern Cardinal and White-throated Sparrow
Pine Siskins and Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal, House Finches, and White-throated Sparrow
Carolina Chickadee and White-throated Sparrow
Pine Siskin
White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows; squirrel
Starlings were fighting over feeder access.
Starlings
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
But the highlights of this hike were the hawks. First, I saw both Red-shouldered Hawks near the golf course pond.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
I headed over to Western Park, and the hawk that had flown from the golf course pond had perched there, and started calling for her mate.
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Cigarette?
The last part of my hike was along Slabtown Branch Creek, and I spotted a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. As I approached, it saw me and took off.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Soon after the Red-tailed Hawk was airborne, it was spotted by the Red-shouldered Hawks, and they made a beeline towards it, and drove it out of their territory.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks
I ended the hike with 26 avian species.