The morning of Jan 3 appeared promising for photography with more light than recent days.  I was in my office when something outside the window caught my attention.  At first I thought that it was a crow, but on closer examination I ascertained that it was an accipiter… probably a young Cooper’s hawk.  The birds had scattered but I raced downstairs for my camera and tried to sneak out the front door, but the accipiter saw me and flew out of the yard.

Accipiter!

About ten minutes later, in the process of gathering the rest of my camera equipment, I glanced out the kitchen window at a some movement in the yard and realized that the accipiter was back.  It at first tried to land on top of a metal fencepost, but having difficulty with that feat it flew to the back of a lichen-covered bench in the yard.  It wouldn’t have been a totally natural setting, but it would have made a nice photo.  I again crept out the front door and the accipiter saw me and flew to the garden fence.  There I obtained a couple of photos… low light on my subject and backlit with the morning sun.  However, under the circumstances, it was the best I could do.

My trip first took me to March’s Point where I photographed this male Bufflehead taking off from the water.  Two males were having a disagreement and there was substantial interaction, but they slowly moved away from me making detailed photos less sharp.

In the same genera area were several other waterfowl, including this beautiful male Common goldeneye.

Male Common Goldeneye

Before leaving March’s Point I managed to photograph one other common winter bird with an unusual appearance… a male Surf scoter.  I almost never get close enough to these birds to obtain decent photographs, and this photo is about the best I can do.

Male Surf Scoter

I finally left March’s Point and moved on to other birds.  First up was this Golden-crowned sparrow, a common winter resident in these parts.

Golden-Crowned Sparrow

Next I encountered this brightly-colored male House finch.  Note the red on the rump which is usually somewhat hidden by the bird’s wings.  The House finches have been in short supply in my yard for the past couple of months.

Male House Finch

Finally, I photographed this fine Fox sparrow which I enticed out of some blackberry bushes.  This was probably my best photo of the day!