The Tree in the hayfield

This picture is the large tree in the middle of the large hayfield just north of the park. The tree is dead but is surrounded by living trees and bushes at its base. Birds love this tree, especially hawks. But other birds like it to. I commonly see (in early July) a Summer Tanager in the top of this tree. In the winter it is common to see an American Kestrel in the tree.

On July 9th of this year a Red Shouldered Hawk landed in this tree. You can see it in the top of the tree picture if you squint. A Mockingbird took offense to the hawk’s presence and launched numerous loud attacks on the Hawk trying to chase it away. Between attacks the two birds sat on branches glaring at one another.

As this fracas occurred a Painted Bunting landed in the tree. The Painted Bunting ignored the Hawk and the Mockingbird. Soon the Painted Bunting was joined by a Cardinal. Then a Scissortail Flycatcher flew up and landed on a branch of the tree. It was quite the gathering of birds.

The next two pictures on the next page show some of the birds in this meeting-of-birds.