June, Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the correct identification. I looked it up on the web and you're right, mine looks just like russelia sarmentosa. It's funny because I don't really care for the looks of the firecracker plant (equisetiformis), except for in a large pot. I've never seen it in a nursery since I purchased it so I'm glad I found it when I did because the hummingbirds really like it. Thanks again, Annette

The only thing with Crossley's Raptor guide is that, for relative beginners, it's photograph overload. Turn to any particular page and one could quickly feel overwhelmed by intricate plumage differences that ultimately jumble together to form one big complex hawk in your memory. Kind of like a library without a card catalog. There's very little you can do other than commit some field marks, flight styles, and behavior to memory. Or, just get good pictures and ask me. :-) Although there are times I have trouble IDing a hawk myself. Depends on how good of a look I can get. I think what else may be helpful is to always know what you might be likely to see in your area. In CT, your Red-taileds are going to be easterns. They pretty much all look the same. You probably have many year-round Red-tailed residents and the guy you photographed up there probably has a mate on a nest right now. A nesting (adult) pair of Red-taileds have the rufous tails. A juvenile (last year's brood) bird will lack a rufous tail and will show brown and white tail bands instead. A clean, lightly marked underside is more indicative of an adult- juvies have more brown markings and look streaky underneath. Some adults are heavily marked too though! Adult Red-taileds will also show a thin dark rim around the back of the underwing. You can see that on the bird you photographed. I recommend Dunne/Sibley/Sutton 'Hawks in Flight, 2nd Edition'. I have to say that I bought the Crossley guide for pleasure rather than purpose. I love the photos! But when I first sat down with it, I could already score very high on the "quizzes" he embedded within it. So, I learned my skills elsewhere. Hawks in Flight was a huge help with that.

Well done! Looks like a text book classic. Nice shot.

the difference between topping.. and pollarding .... is the pruners understanding that he is creating a situation of long term maintenance ... if you think you will cut once.. and be done with it... or worse.. leave it for the next owner.... you are mistaken ... it will rot .. in tree years... which would be decades ... it will collapse ... and it will need annual pruning to repair those part which fall off.. in wind storms.. ice/snow.... etc ... i am not sure you are answering any questions asked ... and keep introducing new variables and personal opinions .... you remind me of my engineer friends.. lol ... can we see a pic of the situation .... can you do this yourself ... why cant the tree be replaced .... are you prepared to replace or remove if and when it becomes a problem ...??? imho ... bleeding is a natural cleansing response to pruning ... its usually not a big deal ... i agree with campy ... a great experiment... if you have the budget ... just dont leave it for someone else ... ken