Activity on Logsdon Ridge

[Carma Sue Henry]

About two weeks ago this year's group of four pregnant does absented themselves the neighborhood scene, leving behind their four surviving (3 males and one female of the five fawns born last year) and one two year old doe.  The youngsters have been coming around sporadically either on their on or in pairs.  Usually the does are gone for around ten days to two weeks.  So far Boss Mom (the eldest at 8+yo) and Dusky (6yo) have returned and are obviously nursing. Boss Mom came in yesterday with her son from last year trailing her.  He's sporting velvet spikes about 6 inches long.  Boss Mom was not pleased to have him around and tried to chase him off several times.  We're looking forward to the return of Shy (the mom I sent the vid of a couple of months ago showing movement of the fetus) and Found as well.

A couple of days ago we were very lucky to see a juvenile Sharp-shinned hawk making attempts on the local quail (who are all paired up now). It was so fast we just weren't quick enough to capture the action on our phones.  Each time the quail pair split and went in opposite directions, which effectively confused the young Sharpie.  After a few moments apart, one would venture back out and start calling for it's mate with a whistled 'where are you'.  Eventually we did see the Sharpie on a fence rail clutching an unfortunate Goldfinch; probably quite a disappointing meal when one was anticipating quail.

The Hairy woodpeckers are teaching their youngsters how to use the suet feeders.  The Acorn Woodpeckers are also taking beakfuls back to this year's nest hole in one of the Douglas fir snags.  That is, if they can chase away the Bluejays, who jam as much into their crops as they can at each sitting.  We certainly going through a lot of suet this time of year.

We've had a couple of Band-tailed pigeons come by, but not in the flocks of past years.  Other missed sightings so far are Black Phoebes, Cedar Wax-wings and Bullock's Orioles.  Only one pair of Western tanagers as well.  I haven't been able to spend much time outside so, hopefully, it's more a lack of observation time than lack of species.

Carma Henry