Last week in my blog I mentioned seeing a small hawk and I couldn’t identify it. The hawk flew away before I could snap a picture of it
Yesterday I saw the hawk again. It was on a power line in front of my house. This time I was able to get a picture.
I sent the picture to my bird expert, my grandson Martin. He was able to identify the hawk as a sharp-shinned hawk. This hawk is the smallest hawk in North America.
I am hopeful that Sharpie has taken up residence in my neighborhood. One nice thing about winter is that I can see the wildlife easier. Not that it is easy to see them.
Hopefully I will see the hawk and the fox that are in my neighborhood. I wonder what other animals there are here that I haven’t seen. As always “Hidden in Plain Sight”
Last week my wife and I were having breakfast. It was still dusky outside when my wife mentioned there was a fox across the Street.
Sure enough, there was a red fox roaming the neighborhood. I have seen foxes before in the neighborhood. I assume this might be the neighborhood fox.
After breakfast I started my morning walk. I was one mile on High Ridge Road when I spotted a dead deer off the road. It was a buck with a full set of antlers. This area must be a deer crossing. Last year there was also a dead deer in the same area.
Continuing my walk, I am approaching Bulls Head, and I see a blue bird land on a small tree. I am thinking is it a blue jay? The size was similar.
I was able to approach the bird, and I realized it was a hawk. I could tell by the beak. The bird flew away before I could take a picture.
I consulted with a bird expert, my grandson, about what type of small hawk it was. My grandson suggested. It might be a kestrel. It wasn’t. We still aren’t sure what hawk it was.
These three sightings happen within thirty minutes. While I do see lots of birds and animals, while walking, it is unusual to see so much animal activity in the built-up part of Stamford
One of the many joys of walking. My goal is to come upon a black bear. They are in the area and have been sighted in North Stamford.
Of course, I would probably run the other way as fast as I can.
I recently walked the entire length of Wire Mill Road. I enjoy walking this road. It is definitely a country road. It is challenging to walk. There are no sidewalks and in some parts of the road it becomes very narrow.
My walk started at the High Ridge Entrance. I have the Rippowam River on my left and I soon approach the tennis courts and Vodka Alley. I call it Vodka Alley because there were Vodka bottles along that stretch. I finally went with a bag and picked up 52 bottles.
Since then, I have not found many Vodka bottles at that point. I may have to change the name I gave to it.
The road certainly gives a country look. As I mentioned, the river is on the left side and houses are on the right side. The river meanders to the left and houses start to appear on the left side.
There is a beautiful stone wall. I feel that is the most artistic stone wall in Stamford.
Next up is a dumping ground for rocks. They are all over the place and most of them are good sized. I assume a glacier melted here and left all these rocks.
Civilization rears it ugly noise. I hear the cars from the Merritt parkway way before I can see the parkway.
There are many beautiful and old houses on the road.
There is a beautiful stone house on the road. There are a few stone houses in Stamford, mainly in North Stamford. They are all worth viewing at some point.
As I have said Stamford is the city of rock and water.
Wire Mill has plenty of both.
At this point you can take a bus to either end and walk the road. I believe they are going to be replacing a bridge soon and the road will be closed at that spot.
Wire Mill Road. One of many nice roads to walk in Stamford.
Stamford By Foot 