American Kestrel in the City

On my way to a totally exciting meeting on safety and OSHA standards and not hopping on ladders I passed this guy.  Screech...to a halt.  I had to get out and take some photos.  I wish I'd thought to take a neighborhood shot.  Hopefully I'll see him again (11th and Masters ish).  A Temple kestrel, forget the owl.  Although if there are any actual owls hanging out on campus...

Frickenhausen 1973 & 2012

One of our primary objectives in visiting Germany was to visit Frickenhausen where I lived with my parents and sister in the early 1970's.  This was my first trip back since I was the little kid with blonde hair in the pink pants.  The steps, you can see, are exactly the same.  I expected Frickenhausen to be charming but I did not expect it to be such a good place for birds.  It's a great place for birds!  Right on the Main River, quiet and beautiful.  I still need help with the id's but the red faced birds are Goldfinch, the woodpecker is a Great-spotted Woodpecker, a Magpie is chasing a Kestrel ( I think), and a Kestrel is sitting atop the church.