Happy 2023!
The new year is here, and while bird activity continues to be mega low, an Opossum has found its way back to the yard at night. I dearly love these creatures, so I am very happy about this. May 2023 provide us with lots of fun wildlife footage!
Video: Surprise night visitor!
Yesterday in the evening, I decided to put some peanut butter on the branch to see if anybody would come to check it out during the night. We have several species of squirrels in Michigan, and this is one of them - a Flying squirrel. These guys look like straight out of an animation movie, and they are so elusive and fast that it is hard to spot them, let alone capture them on film or photo. This is not perfect but still a lot of fun to watch, and only the second time I saw one in my yard.
Video: He has been back
every other night now, and while I don't want to jinx it, he might be a regular now... I think in this one, some sort of ear tuft is visible, so I am now leaning more towards my initial thought Northern Screech. It is a delight to wake up in the morning, check my Birdsy app and see that there are new owl videos from the night 😊
Video: Mr. Matt Fowley, the owl
has returned last night and seemed to enjoy the splish splash as much as I did my shower after this extremely hot day. He still looks nervous but the sound of the water must have been too tempting. His bathing moves are also getting more bold. I will never get tired of watching this 😄
(Now people are telling me that it is a Screech owl. I am no owl expert, I thought Screech initially and was then corrected and found the roundness fit for the Saw Whet. If there are owl experts present, feel free to shower me with your knowledge.)
Video: Look who was back!
An owl came to my bird bath a couple of times last year when I did not have the pond set up, and the videos were some of the highlights of my birdwatching year. I was hoping it would return, and last night it did. I love how it is exploring everything. This is four minutes long, I did not feel like editing any of it. I hope you enjoy and have a pleasant Wednesday!
Adding a second video here because Owlie was back Friday morning, this time going all in!
It seems to remain unclear what kind of owl it is. I initially thought Screech, then someone convincingly said it might be a Saw whet. Now someone else came up and said Screech. Whatever it is, I enjoy the visits. Maybe at some point the ID will be more conclusive.
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.
Video: A Michigan Stand-off
The Opossum was back tonight! But also meeting a Raccoon. This was neat because I have never seen the 'possum show it's teeth. We are still wondering if we will see a mommy opossum walk by carrying the babies.
Video: Looks who's back!
Temperatures have gotten a little milder, and last night, this cutie came over. He/ she looks quite sturdy and moves very carefully so we think it might be a mommy to be. (I have sped the video up in the middle part) It would be so cool to see an Opossum waddling around with babies on their back.
Video: Turf war!
Trash panda and smelly teddy are having a turf war over spilled seed. The skunk’s defense is giving the word buttress a whole new meaning 😆 Bird traffic has slowed down a lot right now, so the photo bounty is a bit meagre. With temperatures dropping, things will pick up soon again. I am still hoping for some Evening Grosbeaks, but so far I got none.
Video: Kid Icarus!
Tonight, the Birdsy cam captured a Flying Squirrel in the yard! We have named him Kid Icarus.
Fun fact: There are nine squirrel species in Michigan, per the DNR. I would not have considered Chipmunks and Groundhogs the squirrel species, very interesting. And the Thirteen-lined ground Squirrel is on my wish list of animals to see now.
Video: Screech Owl this morning
6 AM, the Robins are already awake. Screecher goes for some more sips before bedtime.
