We were taking a walk on Boat Meadow Beach when we saw a little bird scurry about in the sand. We both thought it was just a regular “sparrow,” but took some photos anyway… just in case. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
When I got home, I pulled it up on my computer and realized that it was not just an ordinary sparrow, but a Savannah Sparrow…. a first for both of us here on Cape Cod.
Savannah Sparrows are identified by the small yellow patch on their face right in front of the eye. They breed in open areas with low vegetation.
This beautiful Sharp-shinned Hawk stopped by our bird feeders yesterday right around lunchtime. He must have been hoping to find something there for a meal. (Click on blog link for other photos.)
In doing some research, I learned that the Sharp-shinned Hawk eats insects, reptiles, small mammals and small songbirds. And those we have plenty of in our yard. They usually pounce from low perches which is why I saw him on the feeder.
When hunting at backyard bird feeders, they cause a wave of high-pitched alarm calls among the gathered songbirds as they flee the area. He stayed for a bit but then flew away without finding his lunch in our yard.
Beautiful bird, don’t you think? Have you ever seen a Sharp-shinned Hawk?
I have only seen a Killdeer a couple of times on Cape Cod and not in the past couple of years. And then the other morning, there were two Killdeer foraging in the grass at Fort Hill. What treat!
We used to see so many Killdeer when we lived in Connecticut. Two of them would annually nest on the median in the parking lot of the school where I taught. They would scurry around between all of the cars but they loved that grassy median.
The Killdeer gets its name from its shrill, two-syllable call, which is often heard, “Kill-deer! Kill-deer!” They are quite identifiable by the patches of white and black on the head, and two black bands across the breast.
Have you ever seen a Killdeer? What a beautiful bird!
Cape Cod daily articles on the wonderful Cape Cod places to hike, experience and photograph. A Cape Cod Outdoor Adventure Series.
