There have been some
visits of birds I have not seen a lot recently, and some of them are the woodpecker guys. Suddenly, a male Redbellied and a Downy have been coming to the camera bowls. They are beautiful and have interesting patterns and textures that make their visits even more special.
I find bird backs
really cool to see because they always seem like such a well-organized piece of nature. It is pretty amazing how neatly the wings fold and everything creates a beautiful, water-resistant surface with the most intricate patterns. Can you guess them all?
Purple? Red? House?
Male House Finches can come in many different shades of red or even yellow and orange, depending on their diet. Some even take on a vibrant color that might remind of raspberries. And if they do that, they often get confused with another bird that is high on the wishlist of many backyard birdwatchers - the Purple Finch. It is not a mythical creature, it is not the name for House finches with a raspberry hue, and it is around a lot less than House Finches. Once you know their differences, you will be able to more easily know what you got. I had the pleasure of having a Purple Finch visiting yesterday, so I made a little chart that might help learning some of their most obvious markers. The two single photos are both also the Purple. He stayed so long that a little snow accumulated on his head.
Last but not least,
more Grackles! How about a round of Grackle bingo? The other two photos I just found so pretty. The first one has mud on the beak. He has probably been digging for grubs.
Nestbox news: It's getting interesting
Gayle has continued to haul material into the box all morning, and now a nestcup is beginning to form. I would not be surprised if she laid her first egg tomorrow, but we will see. Here is the nest as it looks today, and photos of Gayle and Mr. Business. He is the one with more blue.
I keep saying
that this is a boring part of the season but it is not like nothing is happening, I guess I am just too excited for the migrants to arrive. However things are changing around here too. A Chickadee has checked out my other nestbox, there are several Robins patrolling the yard now, the Blue Jays have started to come in pairs, the Goldfinches are sporting a very adventurous look, the Juncos are still having fun here and the MoDos are beginning to flirt. The crocuses and narcisus are coming out and trees are starting to bud. I’d say spring has sprung.
The air is filled
with spring calls and songs, and the Redwinged Blackbirds add a splash of color to that whole symphony as well. I have not seen a female yet so I think they are still kind of passing through. They are just so wonderfully elegant.
Spring is good
for some surprises after all. A Scarlet-eyed Grackle came by and curiously checked the feeders. I have never seen one before but I heard it is a special day when a birder has the opportunity, so I am sharing with all of you. Happy Friday, I wish you all wonderful surprises and a good laugh. Also, your zipper is open😉
Good morning!
Nothing much is going on right now, in the last two days winter has returned with frosty temps. The forecast is looking good though. Gayle the Bluebird has taken a little break from nestbuilding, the Juncos are still around but there are also more signs of spring. Groundhog and Chipmunk are back, and earlier today I saw a Cardinal feeding wifey, which is part of their courtship. Here’s to a good Tuesday, stay warm!
There are more
than one harbingers of spring in the bird world, and this beuatiful creature is one of them, the Redwinged Blackbird. Redwinged Blackbirds have a distinctive call and just (literally) screams “spring” to me. Their colors remind me of my native country Germany but also of a great Pearl Jam song. So far I have only seen males, who are elegantly black with vibrant epaulets that give them their name. And just like with the Grackles, they have a majestic side but can also look quite funny, as can be seen below. Females and youngsters look alike, with beige and brown speckles and patterns. You can see a tiny bit of that on the back of one of them here.
Speaking of Grackles,
they don’t just impress with their size and iridiscence, but also make the Grack ladies go wild when they puff up. It is a whole process that they get ready for, showing the nictitating membrane and also giving out their trademark call that sounds like a rusty garden gate. With that said, I hope you all have a great Friday - cocklareee!
The small crowd
is not less entertaining right now. It is a funny time because summer and winter kind of meet. Spring can be felt and seen. The Goldfinches are starting to get their bright yellow summer plumage but at the same time, Redbreasted Nuthatches are still hanging around, as well as Juncos who do the most insane flight manoeuvers right now. (The lens fogged up when the Junco was there, and I think it created a cool look.)
Spring migration
is always interesting because a new bird might arrive any time. The first groups that arrive are usually males, but not long after that, you will see females appear. In these photos, the shiny ones are male birds and I think the other bird is a female. Some females do have a brownish washed-out look too. They might not shine as gloriously but they have the same majestic yet goofy look as the males. (Plus - rain on Gracks is beautiful too!)
The Robins
have multiplied in the last couple of days, and they found out that there are mealworms on the menu here. Now they compete with everybody else whenever a worm is available outside the cage feeder for the BBs. In the evenings, they are still strutting about, and since the day traffic is gone then, I throw them a handful as a good night snack. I love the details in their faces.
Redbellied Woodpeckers
are quite easy to tell apart when it comes to male and female. The male has an all red head cap while the female has a greyish forehead followed by red. This one here has been coming every so often, and it has the most interesting look. Now one could go into all kinds of theories but I personally think it is a female with some fancy extra color. Anyways - such a pretty bird!
When I was looking
through the photos from yesterday, I saw lots of familiar birds but then one chest caught my eye. A Pine Siskin showed up! They are the size of a Goldfinch, have very pointy beaks and some yellow on their wings. People often confuse them with female House Finches but if you look closely here, you can tell the difference. Beak, chest pattern and the yellow are good markers. Just like Goldfinches, Pine Siskins seem to suffer from a Napoleon complex - they are tiny but mega feisty and hardly ever get along with other birds. Very entertaining little buggers.
I finally decided
to put out food again, and I have to say I missed going through photos each evening. Traffic is still slow and I have not put all feeders out yet because I kind of enjoy the relatively small amount of doves and Starlings. It was wonderful to see more Grackles coming in this week. And I am happy to report that my favorite one, the one with the specks around the neck, Count Grackula himself, has also found his way back here. With their chiseled, majestic and impressive looks they somehow remind me of horses. But then they can also be incredibly goofy-looking. They love peanut halves.
It is very hard
to maintain focus right now. The Bluebirds are helping to lift my thoughts out of the dark terrain they tend to gravitate towards these days. There seem to be several couples, and they have started incredible air fights, trying to figure out who has dominance over the yard, feeder and nestbox. It is a lot like the world right now, but actually delightful to watch and listen to. Here is one of the females. Please be safe out there and hug your loved ones during these dark times. Also, if you want to help - get a sticker from my shop. We are going to make a donation to a cause that benefits the people in Ukraine.
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!
