[Michael]

About a week ago I was outside on my rear deck facing the dry woods area. Heard 2 different bird sounds and wasn't sure what they were. One of them sounded like a type of hawk.

Later I saw both birds. One of them was a smaller hawk and the other was a big woodpecker.

Researched online and also went onto YouTube to watch videos of the bird to see if they were what I saw and heard.

2 birds were confirmed as the Cooper's hawk and pileated woodpecker.

One fishing buddy I have is a bird fanatic and knows his birds. He said all his life he has spotted a pileated woodpecker only twice in CT.

[PECo]

That's really cool. I'm not an avid bird watcher or ornithologist, but I appreciate a good bird sighting.

I forgot to mention in my report last week that Kira and I saw a seagull fly over us with what looked like a small panfish in its beak. As it flew away from us over the woods, it suddenly dropped the fish and flew off toward the Salmon River flats. I actually said to Kira, "Why the heck did it drop the fish into the woods?" One second later, a bald eagle flew across the path that the seagull had taken over us. Although the seagull had, apparently, seen the eagle, the eagle, apparently, hadn't seen the seagull drop the fish, because the eagle just flew past us and continued on its way.
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Don't forget to wear sunscreen and don't litter!

[Michael]

Your story, Phil, reminds me of what 2 ice fishing buddies and I got to witness back in 2011.

We were ice fishing on West Twin and saw somebody left a pickerel dead on the ice. Later while we were ice fishing that area, we saw 2 bald eagles fly over and circle the area. One of them then came swooping down, slid on the ice with its feet, grabbed the dead pickerel, and took off.

[DirtyDawg10]

The pileated woodpeckers are pretty birds. I used to see them quite often in my back yard at the old house but haven't seen any lately. I did see a huge barred owl a few weeks back which was very impressive to watch.

[Michael]

An owl I occasionally hear in my neck of the woods is the screech owl. Sometimes hear it making that high pitched horse sound.

[Michael]

Saw a peregrine falcon while herring fishing today at South Benson.

Hooded mergansers are having a feast in open waters.