When you watch birds regularly,
you will notice hierarchies and pecking orders. Not just within the backyard as a habitat but also within the smaller “habitats” of feeders, bath and feeding areas. It is always interesting to see who gets along, who doesn’t, who comes in groups and who goes all by themselves. Goldfinches are plenty right now, and the funny thing is that they will get along with others but go bananas amongst each other. Chickadees, Redbreasted Nuthatches and also Juncos like to do their own thing, diligently visiting feeders when there’s no traffic (usually because they are empty) or foraging around the ground and near the bird bath.
The Christmas snow came two days late,
but the backyard was a beautiful winter wonderland earlier today. I love snow days because they provide a welcome break from the somewhat boring routine that is going on right now. Many birds were visiting, and it was exciting to look out the window. The Blue Jays, Starlings, MoDos and Finches dominated at the feeders, but there were some highlights as well. The Redbellied Woodpecker male with the funky forehead was back, and so was the female. He’s in the first two photos.
I hope
that you all had a Christmas that was as fun as the one I had. There was no snow, which was a bit sad, and it felt like the birds were all having their very own gatherings, bird traffic is slow right now. So today is another good day to introduce who is in the calendar. October is the “furry birb”, one of the resident groundhogs. They are not at our house and they make us laugh, so we tolerate them. Since the year is ending soon, I have added another promo in the shop that begins tomorrow and is good until January 1. Check it out here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
And...
things are going to get a little busy here for me and you probably as well in the next couple of days, so I wanted to take a minute to wish you all a merry Christmas / Fröhliche Weihnachten and a wonderful holiday time. Hopefully, you will bathe in presents and food and love as much as a MoDo 😜 I am thankful for all of you.
For some reason,
birds looking down onto the food is one of my favorite poses for the photos. Maybe it is because you can see parts and details that you would normally not see. I love to examine their beaks and faces, the patterns and colors on the head. Here are a male House Finch and a male Bluebird.
The September bird
of the Ostdrossel calendar for 2022 is one of my favorite MoDo photos. This silly bird was posing like for an iconic painting. The light and leaves make the look perfect. It is hilarious and beautiful at the same time. The calendar is available in several sizes and you can get it here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel. Have a great Tuesday!
Whose pantaloons might these be?
This was a first - a Sharp-shinned Hawk! I do have the occasional hawks swooping in, but usually it’s the larger but similar looking Coopers Hawk. There are several ways to keep them apart but two ID features are “pencil thin legs” and the size. All the other Hawks I have seen in my yard had more sturdy legs and were larger, raptor large. This guy is so much more compact! I am also adding a Blue Jay, for comparison. I don’t think there were any casualties. This morning, while still laying in bed in the dark, I could also hear an owl hooting. Raptors are so neat.
One of my favorites,
the Red-breasted Nuthatch. Tiny, vocal, bold and very diligent. This is one of the birds that will wait nearby when I refill, and not be scared when I am still right there. One time I had one feeding from my hand, too. Yesterday, he was the first and last bird to appear in my camera roll. I love the evening light.
And a lot of traffic
And a lot of traffic can create quick interactions and surprise gatherings at the feeders. The Blue Jays, Starlings and Goldfinches were exceptionally active. I love these interaction shots but they are often not in focus, so here are three rare examples. I hope you have a pleasant Monday with no bad surprise gatherings 😊
It was wings day
at the feeders yesterday, and everybody came to show off.
(Blue Jay, European Starling, American Goldfinch, Redbellied Woodpecker)
The outside looks very pretty today,
we were gifted with snow over night! I am glad I got my little Santa Stop done yesterday (check the livestream to see it), and I love that there is more activity at the feeders today too, so hopefully there will be some fun new photos later. I still wanted to continue to introduce the calendar birds for 2022. I apologize for slacking a bit with that, but it has been busy. July and August are the months that burst with bird variety and baby birds. The July bird is the vibrantly looking and beautifully singing Baltimore Oriole, and August shows an adorable young Blue Jay. Be safe out there in the snow today!
If you are interested in getting an Ostdrossel calendar, you can get them here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
Another stormy day here
in Michigan, and I decided to not put out cameras on a tripod because of it. Instead, I put them on the ground. I would still love more Junco footage, and Cardinals too but the weather has been so weird and erratic that things are just super duper boring. However, here are a hilariously “shy” squirrel and a Goldfinch with lots of stuff blown towards him/ her. Come good into Friday!
During these duller times,
I often think back on the year and more fun times, like June. June means that the Hummingbirds have arrived and the garden is coming along. I am still geeked out about Hummingbirds, they are so fascinating to me. So tiny, so fierce, so beautiful. And I love when I can lure them to the camera. The June bird of the Ostdrossel 2022 calendar is a Rubythroated Hummingbird, the only species we get here (apart from rare exceptions).
You can get a calendar here, they come in four sizes: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
Things are rather calm at the moment,
and I realize that I am writing this a lot but it is also kind of typical for the season. I am a bit glad because work has been quite demanding recently, too. However, my eyes cannot stay away from the yard, and it is always a pleasure to see something other than Blue Jays, MoDos or finches. Like my big bird love, these guys - the Bluebirds. Once again I could hear them this morning when I went out to fill the feeders and set up the cameras, and I got rewarded for daring to put some mealers in the open. I hope your week is going well!
I always get a kick
out of the Redbellied Woodpeckers at the cam feeder. They come for the nuts, and sometimes it takes them a bit, but then then they figure out how to cling. With this female, I thought it was cool how her belly feathers bunched up. You can see a bit why they got their name but it’s also kind of cool how vibrant and almost neon they look.
It's Friday, and that is a good day
to introduce the May bird of the Ostdrossel 2022 calendar. It is an American Robin, and I chose this bird and photo for May because it is my birthday month, and I am in love with the clarity and light here. You can almost see the trees awakening with all this fresh and vibrant green. The bird is sitting on a bowl with an orange half and a blob of grape jelly that I put out in spring. I do it for the Orioles mainly, but many other birds enjoy it as well. If you want to try it too, choose grape jelly as natural as possible. Mashed grapes will work too. American Robins are the state bird of Michigan, and while they usually leave my area late in fall, some will also spend the winter in the state. Come good into the weekend!
My calendars are available here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
The pickings are slim still,
but this is normal for this time of the year. It was a cold day today, and there was even some snow. The MoDos come in large groups, and often occupy the food dishes for hours. But occasionally, they have enough and let other birds feed. I loved this Blue Jay with the dotted forehead and the proud-looking Goldfinch that still has quite a bit of color on him.
The BBs came over today
and did not disappoint. Grumpy faces, beautiful detail and overall loveableness. I heard them when I got out for the second refill of the day and decided to try and put some mealers out in the camera feeders. I cannot set the clock to when they come but they are hagning around. Having mealers out in open feeders at all times would give me a bunch of Starlings, so I try to listen. Come good into the week!
The month of April
in the 2022 Ostdrossel calendar is graced with a gorgeous Common Grackle. If you have followed me for a bit, you will know that I have a special love for these glorious birds. This I think is not Count Grackula but he is part of the family. They are seasonal visitors here, coming in spring, raising their babies and then moving south once it gets colder. They are smart, fierce, impressive and absolutely stunning.
The calendars come in several sizes. There is a link on my main page but you can also click here: Calendar shop.
Oh, how wonderful!
There are several Cardinal couples around, and you have seen some of their offspring too. the whole summer I have heard and seen them, but they are shy when it comes to the camera… But the colder weather has brough them out more, and today this beautiful female came to sit by the camera.
