October 23

Really cool - saw both the red-tailed hawk, and then a smaller bird of prey (one of those I've been trying to identify), perched in a tall evergreen.  The smaller is dark grey on its back, with heavy markings.  I'm almost sure it was a peregrine falcon. 

Also I know I saw a wren, small, dark, with a darker front than some I have seen.  Winter wren is my best guess. 

Common birds: downy woodpecker (male, female?), chickadee (3+), house sparrow, blue jay, cardinal (pair), red-breasted nuthatch, goldfinch, red-tailed hawk (perched)

Fall visitors: junco, winter wren (ID?), smaller bird of prey (perched)

the switch / January 31

Took down some artwork today that I have had showing locally.  My mum and I saw the, or a, small bird of prey.  I'm guessing it's the same one I've been seeing, but she thinks it's bigger than a merlin, so based on the similar appearance (grey back, white front with brown streaks, dark face?), a peregrine falcon is also possible.  I thought I remembered seeing merlin-like streaking on the front when I saw it once before, but I don't seem to have written that down, so maybe not?  The streaking on the merlin vs. the peregrine falcon is, as I said, similar, but different.  The smaller bird of prey I've seen may also be something different each time. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair)

Winter visitors: junco

Unidentified birds: merlin/falcon/hawk??