Things have slowed down
and migration for some birds has already started. I haven’t seen Grosbeaks in a couple of days, and Oriole activity has also slowed down. There is the occasional Hummingbird but nothing like in previous years, fitting for this slightly underwhelming season. But there are still lots of young birds around, and I love watching them with their interesting markings and adorable faces. Young Redwinged Blackbirds are particularly cool looking, with their peachy faces and pink beak corners. At some point, they molt into adult feathers, and you can see some of that in different stages here too.
I always like it
when birds look distinguishable, have odd markings or behavior that I recognize. This Red-winged Blackbird seems to be growing new wings on his shoulders, and I think it looks really cool and dramatic how the sheaths are slowly turning into real feathers. He did like to present himself properly, too.
The frost warning from last night
was hopefully the last one for the season. I moved the baby plants to a sheltered spot and was happy I had not planted anything yet. And it is warming up outside again now. There are nests, full and empty, finished or in progress, all over the place. I know the Grackles have babies because the other day I found Grackle egg shells in the pond, and now they drop their diapers in there and come to dunk nuts in the water too. And yesterday, there was this dedicated parent with a beak full of insects. The Redwinged Blackbird is in this set too because it’s such a pretty photo.
Despite some more frosty temperatures,
the backyard has truly started to transform, and one of my favorite things in spring is when the fruit trees and the Serviceberry begin to bloom. The latter is a little early this year, it usually starts in May. Yesterday was beautifully sunny, a perfect occasion for happy spring portraits. The Hummingbirds, Orioles and Grosbeaks should start arriving soon as well, and milder weather is on the horizon. Finally!
We are having a nice week
ahead of us with very mild temperatures that will wake up gardens and wildlife from their winter slumber, while migration still continues. This weekend, female and nonbreeding male Redwinged Blackbirds arrived here. The females look distinctively different but if you pay attention to some details like beak shape and some color hints, you can tell what they are. The Robins are also frolicking around, and I would not be surprised to see them starting to build nests this week. I may even consider setting up the pond, if work time permits.
Hormones are beginning to rage,
resulting in an amazing symphony of calls and melodies by the competing males. But the bird ladies also get to enjoy impressive, dramatic and sometimes hilarious visual displays, like here from Redwinged Blackbird and Grackle.
More snow is in the forecast
for tonight but spring vibes are wafting through the yard like an unstoppable force. So far I have only heard Robins and not seen them yet but I am sure it won’t be much longer. The Grackles and Redwinged Blackbirds are filling the air with their distinctive raspy calls, and show off to each other in the sunshine. It is a time of promise that not even more snow can dampen.
March is well on its way
into spring, and it is noticeable when you step outside right away. The Redwinged Blackbirds and Grackles have even started to puff up already, and it is glorious to listen to and watch. The Titmice have also become a lot more vocal, and the Goldfinches are turning more and more yellow, changing into summer feathers. It is just so lovely to see the changes.
Despite the snow today,
spring is definitely coming, and there are signs everywhere. One of them is that the Starlings are beginning to change into their summer plumage. They are losing the spots and become glossy and iridiscent, the beaks are turning yellow, and the legs are becoming more red. They are travelling in groups with Grackles, Cowbirds and Redwinged Blackbirds, one of which also visited today. It appears to be an immature male.
I haven’t seen
a Chickadee, Nuthatch, Titmouse or even Downy Woodpecker in a long time. The Grackles, MoDos and Blue Jays, are dominating yard and feeders. I can see how smaller birds stay away from that but it makes things a bit boring. So I was excited to see this one showing up yesterday. It is a juvenile Redwinged Blackbird, and guessing by the red on the shoulders, a male. I love how much orange this bird has, the whole color combination is quite beautiful.
One fun thing about birdwatching
is that you never know what you’re gonna get. Even for a backyard birdwatcher, things will change with the seasons but also from year to year. I did have male Redwinged Blackbirds at my feeders always but this year, there seem to be a lot more females. Or females that are not camera shy. With this expressive one, I would like to wish everyone a FANTASTIC MONDAY!
And yes, even more baby birds.
I have noticed a lot more Redwinged Blackbirds around this year. I have no idea why but I love that they are not camera shy. Here is a young one, the coloring is much more peach and there is of course the typical baby gape, the rosy beak “corners”.
With the weather basically
changing daily at the moment, there can be cool light moments against dramatic stormy skies. This was one moment, and the Redwinged Blackbird looked so lovely. He has a nice little spotty pattern going on in his wings too. With the RWBB, not all individuals look alike, the vibrance and size of the epaulets differs according to age and genetics. If you live within their range and see one with just a thin yellow line on the wing, chances are, it is still a RWBB, just with slightly less color.
