Videos: late summer life at the community pool
There is still not a lot happening at the moment so I am thankful even for little scenes.
I love Nasturtium and this year, it grows like crazy all over the yard (but also in a fenced-off section in my veggie garden). I often gather some for salads or just to eat plain. It has a peppery flavor. I am surprised to see that the groundhog likes it too, but it also looks like it has to take a big sip right after 😜 Once again, I know they are destructive but they just crack me up.
Happy Friday!
Robins are some of the best bathers around, and I thought it was so funny how these two made way for the young Flicker. I never see Flickers at my feeders so I always love it when they pop up at the bath.
Video: Dr. Clara at the pool
The camera was struggling a bit because of the constantly moving leaf shadows but I thought this scene was too cute not to share. Dr. Clara is behaving like me when I first go to take a dip 😆 Also, I just love their slow wing display. Bluebirds are magical.
Video: Not the Nasturtium!
We plant a little flower patch each year around the bird bath, and this year, the nasturtiums are plenty. I was so happy because I love using them in the kitchen, but I guess others like them too 😆 (I know that groundhogs can damage gardens and sheds, but we have one every year and the house and garden are still standing.)
Video: Those slow summer days
where all the birds are taking care of their babies and there is a thunderstorm every four hours can be a bit boring for the backyard birder. But the bird bath still provides good entertainment. Here is a surprise Cedar Waxwing, who was joined by a Baltimore Oriole.
The Robins
are having more than one brood per season, and since I have seen them gathering more nesting material, I put up the little bowl with mud and leaves and grass up again to help them out a bit. This one apparently took a good portion, and then came straight to the feeder. Happy Friday!
Video: A new pond visitor
I love it when a new bird comes and the pond cam lens is clean. (I run out all the time to wipe it but sometimes my timing is off. It's a good workout in this weather 😁)
I am thinking immature Cooper's. Never had any other ones here and it feels like the legs and overall size are bigger than a Sharp-shinned.
Video: A white whale backyard bird
Today was a special day - a group of Cedar Waxwings came to the pond! They are one of my white whale backyard birds because they do not come to feeders and I find them so cool looking. We planted lots of plants in the garden because we heard they lure them in :D The other bird is an American Robin, and he cracked me up because he seemed rather unhappy about the jolly group using his pool.
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: FOY White-throated Sparrow
Spring migration is underway, and while I haven't seen an Oriole or Hummingbird yet, this beauty stopped by the bird bath this morning. White-throated Sparrows are native to the US, and they look super cool with their bib and head markings. I only get them for short periods, so it is always a delight to see one.
I have seen numerous Oriole sighting reports yesterday, so they should also arrive here any day / hour now. The Bluebird babies had a huge growth spurt yesterday, are developing their dotted “PJs” and have started to exercise their wings. Dr. Clara did not spend the night on the nest with them but this could also have been because it was so warm. Things are looking up in the garden too. Baby veggies are getting bigger and the fruit trees are full of blooms. Even the Mulberry that we transplanted here a couple of years ago as a sapling has a bloom. I cannot believe my favorite month May is almost here.
Pond season!
I have been rather busy last week, so there have not been many photos, but things are more relaxed now. I put the pond back together too, and while it is not finished yet, the birds seem to be happy, and the livestream is back too. My prediction of Orioles and Hummingbirds last week did not turn out to be true but sighting reports are becoming more frequent, and historically, the last week of April and first week of May have been THE time for the first ones to arrive in my yard. Here’s to spring, it truly has sprung now!
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.
Spring rain
and mild temperatures have started to wake up the garden. Everywhere you look, tiny soft green is finding its way to the surface, and the air is full of promise. I have started some of my veggie seeds and was daring enough to put radish and beet seeds into the ground (while crossing my fingers for no more deep frost). The Robins are enjoying that the ground is more workable for worms, and they are looking for nest sites. In between, they never say no to a good bath. And then proudly come to see if there are any snacks.
Video: Talk to the wing!
I cannot wait to set the pond back up. It looks like competitive bathing season is here and the heated bath is way too small. 😆
Videos: More good signs of spring
I have heard and seen them for a couple of days now, but they hadn’t made it to the cams yet. But this morning, a Robin finally checked out the bird bath. The bath is quite nasty looking from what must have been a critter party last night and it has been cleaned now.
The other sign of spring is the first recorded Grackle puff of 2021. “It’s here,” he shouts!
Have a great Saturday!
Video: Backyard lifer!
Earlier today, a Common Redpoll graced my backyard. This was a wonderful surprise. Due to the irruption, they have been abundant in Michigan this winter, but I never had one right here. Now we can really move on to spring!
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.
Snow day!
We got a lot of snow last night. I made Pelmeni, knitted and watched the cameras getting buried under snow. This morning, the yard was covered in about 12 inches of beautiful, fluffy snow. I shoveled the cameras and the bird bath free (they all made it like true champs!) and put out food. There is a bit of a feeding frenzy going on, so hopefully there will be some nice photos tonight.
And here’s Dasher. I had seen his tracks in the snow but wasn’t quite sure who could have made them :D
Stay warm, everyone!
