First snow day
of the season, and while a lot was the same as normal, these guys showed up as well - a male and female Cowbird. People do not like them a lot once they figure them out, but hear me out! They have a function in nature, and , you might have guessed it - humans screwed things up for them. I like them, so HELLO!
I always like it
when I see bird couples coming to the yard. The Cardinals do it, the Finches, and probably everybody else too but you just can’t tell that good if they look alike. The male Redbellied Woodpecker has made himself rare all year but today he was here. And his lady was there as well. She is the one with the blue-gray forehead.
A quick Hello
during a busy start of a work week. The light right now is interesting, either almost blindingly bright or so murky that every hour seems like 5 PM. I do prefer the sunny days, though. It is true that birdwatching makes you more aware of the cycles in nature, and I always find it interesting to see how the position of the sun is changing with the seasons. Somehow, that regularity is soothing amidst the chaos of life. Now, with the trees almost empty, there is also a noticeable uptick in hawk activity, so far with no casualties. Here are a Blue Jay and a House Finch to brighten your Tuesday, and I hope it is a good one.
And here
is the March bird of the 2022 Ostdrossel calender, a harbinger of spring, but also the announcer of a 10 day special sale of the calendars - a Redwinged Blackbird. I love these guys when they look sleek and relaxed but I always get a kick out of their puffed up state. Here, you can also see what gave them their name - the gorgeous red “epaulets”. You can find the calendars in three sizes in my shop here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
The squabbles continue!
Here with two who rival over who gets the most peanuts - a Blue Jay and a Redbellied Woodpecker. I have several feeding stations around, including a seed cylinder, and it is funny to see them all making the rounds on all of them, depending on the time of the day and the amount of food in bowls or on platforms. Apart from a little “beak rattling”, nothing nasty happens in those fights though. Humans should follow their example more. Have a great Friday!
The selfie-expert
was back today to take a pic with a House Finch 😁 I think he is improving his skills, too! If you are still thinking about getting an Ostdrossel calendar, I recommend to check my shop from Nov 19 to 29 for a special promotion where calendars are a bit more affordable. You can find the shop here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
It is funny
how some birds make a complete disappearance and then suddenly return in full force. The Goldfinches are a case of that. Now in less vibrant winter plumage, they come to feed on seed pods in the garden, check out bird baths for a sip or two and also go to feeders. I personally don’t feed thistle because I find it too messy but I also realized that Goldfinches LOVE shelled sunflower seeds. So much that one year, I picked them out of the mix because I wanted to get photos of other birds too 😆
Today, we have
the first more winterish weather here - it’s been murky and sleety all day. The birds are not amused. I hope you have a warm spot and will bob into the week as effortlessly as this MoDo.
When I first heard
the call of this woodpecker, I was confused as to what this bird was. The Redbellied Woodpeckers in my backyard are particularly vocal, and it is especially fun to listen to them when they have young ones to feed. Here is the resident female Red-bellied Woodpecker. For those who wonder about the name - the species has a red area on the lower belly. They are one of my favorites, and always willing to come to food bowls, even if just for a single sunflower seed.
These guys
are always around, always busy sampling and collecting food, and always stinking adorable and full of personality - Blackcapped Chickadees. I used to think that the European Coal Tit is basically looking alike but after a little digging, is is the Marsh Tit. They are so tiny that sometimes they are too fast for the camera, always quickly slipping in like someone who is in a hurry at the supermarket. I love that my family in Germany and all the European and British birdwatchers have something similarly entertaining and cute to look at.
And since it is Thursday,
here is another bird from the 2022 Ostdrossel calendar. The month of February is represented by Queen Red Eyebrow, a female Cardinal. I love this photo because it is so dramatic and wintery. In the back behind her head you can see a Blue Jay.
I occasionally get asked about prints of my photos. Generally I am not a big fan of selling prints, because not all photos will look good printed in every size or for every purpose and I want to avoid disappointment. However, all the photos in my calendar could probably be framed too. I have the large one here with me, and I can tell you they look great. You can get the calendar here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
Speaking of blue...
Yesterday, eight Bluebirds swooped into the yard. I noticed they were around when I first got out in the morning. I could hear them. They have the sweetest call and song, and once you know what they sound like, you might find that you have them around without knowing it. I think it is the family of Dr. Clara and Mandrake. They will share food for a bit but are also often in a fighty mood. I love them so much.
Left is a female, in the middle a male and a female, and the third photo shows a male.
Here is the other regular
that currently dominates the yard along with the MoDos. And I have to say I never get tired of the Blue Jays. Their stunning looks make up for their sometimes overwhelming noise level. I also love how expressive their head feathers are.
Fall migration
is still going on, which also means that all of a sudden, large flocks of birds can descend onto yards and feeders and make quick process with the goodies. It’s often groups of Redwinged Blackbirds, Grackles and Starlings that travel together. I have not had large flocks so far, but there was the occasional single Redwinged Blackbird still this week, and some Starlings. Their winter plumage has the tiny heart shapes, their beaks turn dark again from yellow, and the legs are not as vibrant as in the summer. When the sun hits them right, they reveal their pretty colors, the “evil rainbow” as I call it.
If you get overwhelmed by Starlings and their big appetite for mealworms or suet, you can try feeders that restrict access for them. I use a caged feeder for the mealworms and the suet sandwich feeder. The upside down feeder for suet is not effective in my experience, they will figure it out.
Rarely does a bird
match the enthusiasm of a MoDo at the feeder. It was another boring day here today birdwise, but at some point, about 30 Mourning Doves rained down to feed. In my head, they all looked like this one 😆
Happy Friday!
Today, I will continue with the introduction of the birds of this year’s calendar with the bird of January, a Dark-eyed Junco. Juncos, also nicknamed “snowbird”, are only visiting my area in the cold season, they stay from about November until April. This makes them harbingers of winter but also of spring in a way. They are hardy little birds that come in an astounding variety of color, depending on region as well as gender. They usually forage on the ground, looking for seed by scratching with both feet at the same time, which looks rather funny. They also sound like tiny laser guns, and their pink beaks make them extra adorable. The one in the photo has a little brown in the feathers, which makes it a bit special because my usual variety is a dark slate gray with a while belly. Come good into the weekend!
You can find the 2022 Ostdrossel calendar here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
There is often confusion
when it comes to the identification of Purple Finches and House Finches. I rarely have Purples visiting, so most of the time my Finches will be House Finches. They can vary in color a lot, depending on their diet. Here is a particularly vibrant male. Not a Purple Finch, even if the color might suggest that. This bird has the typical streaked chest, head and beak of a House Finch, and while they are not visible here, also the non-red wing bars mark him as a House Finch.
That Redbellied Woodpecker
with the interesting head colors is so intriguing to me. I do think it is a male, and it feels like I might have seen one like that last fall too but I am not entirely sure. The interesting part can be seen a bit better here. He has some of the grey-blue that the females have over his eyes. Usually, the males only have red. I think it gives him a more dramatic look.
In the last couple of days,
temperatures have gone down a lot. I got a kick out of my impeccable timing with the bird bath (I know, I am getting old, I guess 😛) - there was actual frost on the lawn and roof yesterday in the morning. The Blue Jays have returned to the feeders in larger numbers to sample and collect peanuts, which they then proceed to hide. This is the week where the serviceberry has beautiful fall colors, and I love how the Blue Jays couple with it.
