There may not be
as much variety here this winter as in previous years, but the Juncos are making up for it with the coolest color combinations. The ones with lots of brown are sometimes almost looking like mini Towhees, they are youngsters from last season. Must have been a good year for them.
The molting continues.
There are still flocks of adventurous looking Cowbirds passing through, along with Grackles and Starlings. Many of the Blue Jays are also still looking rather rough, but the weather is nice enough so they will not be cold. The Goldfinches have come back, bringing their adorable and excited youngsters, and they are beginning to molt into their winter feathers. The resident Cardi family also has made it through the summer fine, they have at least two young ones but except for this female, they are all camera shy. Hopefully in the coming weeks I can get one of the babies to check a camera out. Come good into Saturday!
I am currently waiting
for a bird food delivery, so I had to stretch things a bit and only put very little out in the last couple of days. This also helps a bit with the feeder-hogging MoDo issue. However, they still have their lookouts and see me coming out or probably even recognize the sound of the door. And even the little ones know how to hog 🤣. This baby Dove tried everything to get the older bird to share. The new seed comes tomorrow, then hopefully things can mellow out here a bit. Have a great Saturday!
As I said yesterday,
the first signs of spring are noticeable. The flock of Red-winged Blackbirds was back this morning, along with a lone Grack. It was wonderful to hear their choir sing high in the tree tops. These guys are passing through but seeing them means that spring migration has begun. Spring is my favorite season and leading into the best bird time of the year, so this is very uplifting. Have a great Saturday!
Video: Scenes from the Santa Stop
The yard has been quite busy today, with many birds (including a hawk earler) visiting the bird baths and feeders. Here is a fun little scene from the bath earlier, a gathering at the Santa Stop. With Goldfinches, House Finches, Bluebirds, Juncos and at the end an American Tree Sparrow. I love snow days.
Video: We are well into September
but I am still putting out Hummingbird nectar. Activity has slowed down a lot recently, and there are days with no Hummers. However, when I was in the middle of refilling yesterday, this guy showed up. It's short but I loved how he seemed angry that the feeder was empty 😄 Well, it will stay put for the time being.
I hope everyone has a nice Saturday ❤️
A MoDough.
Mourning Doves can be very dominating at the feeders, lifting their wings to shoo others away, pecking rivals away, or doing this. Just squatting down to digest and snack some more. I hope your Saturday is filled with lots of naps and good food as well.
Video: Dinner with the Blues!
The Bluebird babies have been in the yard for a couple of days, but the male always fed them by the caged feeder (that has no cam on it). Last night, they finally led them to the open tray, and Mom and Dad joined in the feeding duties. I have seen all five babies at some point but harsh weather, natural predators or individualism might have separated the siblings. Anyways, here is some happiness to make your Saturday better. (No, the babies are not considerably larger, the angle makes it appear so.)
Another nestbox update
Dr. Clara laid her first egg of brood 3 this morning and Lady Corleone is diligently incubating her clutch of seven. Meanwhile the yard is starting to fill up with bird babies, yesterday I saw a Cardi feeding a youngster, they seem to have two. I hope they go and visit the cameras too! The birdbath is a good point to watch right now too, the baby Orioles and Grosbeaks like it a lot. I am still waiting for the second clutch of the Bluebird babies to come to the yard too but that should also soon happen. Things are picking up again finally!
Grackle appreciation post
I have been so busy with work this week that I did not have a lot of time to process photos. But I have a selection ready and will post that in the morning. For now, please enjoy these goofy beauties and sleep tight.
(PS - the Grack in number 6 shows it’s nictitating membrane, a third kind of eyelid.)
Video: A very elegant nightly visitor and a PSA
During more boring times like right now, it is often wonderful to see something unusual. Like this Fox that came at night for a drink. He looks so elegant, and I love how attentive his ears are.
PSA - the livestream will be inactive for a couple of days but will be back live soon again.
The backyard is starting
to brim with fertility, and love is buzzing all over the place. I saw Grackles mating, Robins collecting nesting material by the bath, and the Cardinals were totally hamming it up today. There is just something so pure and adorable about a Cardi man feeding his lady to woo her. I have seen it several times today, and I am so happy that they even took it to the camera. I hope their nest, wherever it is, is safe and sound, and they will have some babies this year. Come good into Saturday!
Video: A romantic moment
for the Cardinals this morning - borbed! I loved the light on the Queen. Female Cardinals are such pretty birds.
Videos: More good signs of spring
I have heard and seen them for a couple of days now, but they hadn’t made it to the cams yet. But this morning, a Robin finally checked out the bird bath. The bath is quite nasty looking from what must have been a critter party last night and it has been cleaned now.
The other sign of spring is the first recorded Grackle puff of 2021. “It’s here,” he shouts!
Have a great Saturday!
And a Downy Woodpecker.
For some reason he has been loving the nut feeder all winter, rarely checked the suet and is now regularly going to the bowls. Funny little guy. He is also always the last bird I see before night falls. Happy Saturday!
And here's a gallery
of Dark-eyed Juncos. There are plenty around right now, and I thoroughly enjoy these little birds. Their pew-pew-pew sounds are echoing all over the yard while they walk around, scratching in the snow for seeds or competing with the Bluebirds in the caged feeder for mealworms. I think these are mostly females, with the exception being the few all “black and white” colored ones. Have a nice weekend!
Video: Blue for breakfast
The sun is out today, and the Bluebirds came for a quick breakfast. Followed by a Chickadee that had some grievances to air. Happy Saturday!
