At about 1:30pm this afternoon, I happened to glance out my window to find 5 beautiful male Evening Grosbeaks on my deck! This is the 3rd time this season I've seen EVGRs at my feeders, and the highest number so far (1 and 3 the 1st & 2nd times, resp.). Just like the other times, they were feeding primarily on safflower seeds, and secondarily on sunflower seeds. Maybe I'll get even more during the coming winter weather front, so I'll be sure to be watching. I was able to take several photos again, before they flew away. All the other usual suspects were at the feeders today as well, in respectable numbers.
About 10 minutes later, I looked out my westward facing windows to see if there were any grosbeaks around again, but there were no birds in sight, which usually means there's a Sharpie or Coopers in the vicinity. I went over and looked out my eastward facing kitchen window, and again, no birds. Right then, a beautiful adult, male Northern Goshawk flew lazily past the window, only about 15-20' from my face!!! He was so close and moving slowly enough that I got a good look at the gorgeous barring on his chest, his bright golden legs/feet, and his brilliant red eye, all without binocs (although I was crawling up onto my counters to get as prolonged looks as possible, and almost slipped into the sink). He flew around to the north side of my house, where he perched in a Gambel's Oak with his striking slate-gray back facing me, and only allowed me to put my binocs on him for about 5 seconds before taking off to the north; I was in the middle of switching from binocs to camera when he flew away, so no photos. What a beautiful bird!!! I have a lot of things to be working on, but after these recent events, I now want to hang around with my optics and look out the windows for birds!!! Good Birding, Kirk Huffstater 4 miles west of Castle Rock, CO
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