To those who I have been blogging with for years, actually 14 of them, thanks for all the wonderful conversations.
To the new follows and followers I have had so much fun getting to know you through your BLOG.
This morning I pulled into the backyard, which is covered by ice.
So I drove up to where my bluebird feeders are.
I did this so I could carefully step out to fill their trays with dried mealworms.
Once those 2 trays were full, I took two cups of mixed seed I had in the car. I tossed them onto the ground for the rest of my feathered friends.
They all came flying in.
I am awfully good to them. :)
I never saw this gorgeous, Red Shouldered Hawk as I pulled in and fed them though.
It was just sunning itself on its favorite tree limb. It over looks the river. It also overlooked my backyard gardens where I feed the birds.
The small birds saw it there but I must have made them feel safe. They must have been very hungry. Or maybe they were waiting for me to return home so they could get more food.
The hawk was just 25 yards from where I parked my car and it never budged from its perch. They do conserve their energy. Only flying when they must, now in the cold weather even more than ever.
They all had to stay in that cold, freezing rain. I swear I do not know how they manage it.
Today I sat outside with them all in the frigid, ice-covered landscape. Having run in to grab a real camera. I visited with this gorgeous creature who calls my place home.
Meanwhile, my resident squirrels sat on their haunches. Their front feet were folded as if they were praying for it not to see them.
It may have already eaten.
So beautiful.
He flew down to the river after about a half hour. He had let the sun warm his face.
It was a very cold start to our last day of 2025.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Eunice
Folsom Mill Studio/Eunice Miller 
Happy New Year, Eunice! Your photos do the hawk proud.
Thank you. Happy New Year too!
You’re welcome.
Thanks so much.
You’re welcome!
Happy New Year and your photos are truly stunning. They made me feel so happy, just looking at all that feathered beauty. Thank you so very much.
Anytime you are welcome to head eat and pull up a spot :)
Thank you so much. I never want to take them for granted.
I wonder if it is a juvenile red-tail? (I am not so good with hawk IDs!)
Red Shouldered
👍🏼
Such lovely shots of that hawk Eunice. Glad he didn’t go after any of your birds while they were eating. Take care and Happy New Year! Hope Brady is feeling better today. ❣️
Great start to the new year Brady is indeed feeling better. Think he had too much grease of garbage Chinese dog treats that were bad I tossed them sad because my brother gave them to him but I do not allow anything from there into my home never mind dog treats.
Yes that hawk calls out each time I step outside maybe it is saying hello or thank you but for sure with Brady beside me I knew would be ok though I did fear for the birds and squirrels when I finally noticed it so close to me. I finished filling the bluebird feeder turned and began tossing some seed to the ground for all the others and as they began to fly down to grad a peanut or sunflower seed some movement caught my eye and there it was too late to save my birds from an attack so I walked back to the house now 60 yards from it and raised my camera and zoomed in to see if it was a red tail, cooper or red shouldered hawk. It was the last one. Had it been a sharp shinned it may have blown by me to grab a quick lunch. This hawk in the photo raises young at my place. I was happy to see it after that nasty ice storm and brutal cold as everyone needs to eat. The night before I had 2 rabbits eating apples I tossed out for the squirrels so who knows what meal the hawk had. Happy New Year!
Nature can be cruel, but that’s what it is all about out there… eat or be eaten! 🙃 Glad Brady is doing better. ❣️
Thanks so much it was very scary.
Great health and happiness, Eunice in 2026.
Thanks you to Robert.
Excellent hawk pictures. I am pleased that it left your small birds alone on this occasion.
Thank you me too.
Happy 2026! Those feathers look kind of like an owl.
Nope a Red Shouldered Hawk we know each other well :)