During these dull winter days
it is very exciting when a bird that usually does not come to the camera shows up in the photos. This is the case with these Downy Woodpeckers. The one with the red on the head is a male. I am not sure if it is the same bird in the other photo. One of these used my Bluebird house for roosting for a couple of weeks but has not been back in a while.
House Finches
are one species that stays in my yard year round. The males can be confusing to people. Their color can vary greatly, and often the ones with darker red on them are mistaken for Purple Finches. These here are all House Finches. It is neat how their diet paints them in so many shades. There are great photo comparisons on the internet if you want to learn how to ID a Purple Finch (the color alone is not an indicator).
Bird traffic
has been quite slow during the holidays, but this is normal for this time of the year. Here are a couple of the visitors from snow day. (Blue Jay, House Finches, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Starling and Redbellied Woodpecker, Blackcapped Chickadee, House Finch and Goldfinch, Mourning Doves)
Along with the Starlings,
a group of Brownheaded Cowbirds has been coming recently. I am not sure I have seen them so late before, usually they arrive by spring and leave for the winter. Many people don’t like them because of their nesting behavior (they lay eggs in other birds’ nests and let them raise their young ones, often to the disadvantage of the original chicks), but I find them fascinating and also think they have the perfect bird shape.
Of course,
there was also a bit of bickering. The Starling flock is still hanging around, and if there are mealworms in the seed mix, they go bananas and can become very aggressive. The Redbellied Woodpecker lady made sure they knew she did not want to share.
We had a white Christmas,
which has not happened in a couple of years. The feeders were busy, and Queen Red Eyebrow saw her chance for a spot at the bowl and made sure she could eat for a bit. The King also showed up.
Giveaway! The December bird
of my calendar is a Blue Jay in a snow storm. We are expecting snow here today and tomorrow too, and I am a bit excited because it always is a great photo opportunity. I hope you are all in a safe and warm spot and as healthy as can be.
Since it is christmas Eve, I am doing a giveaway on my social media. You can win an Ostdrossel calendar if you are a follower, and you like, comment and share my post on Facebook or Instagram. There will be two winners, and I will announce them by the end of the week.
Merry Christmas & Fröhliche Weihnachten, everyone!
I don't post them often enough,
but I love the Whitebreasted Nuthatches. There seem to be several couples around. This is a male, his head cap is black, whereas the one of the female is blue-gray.
The Tufted Titmouse
is one of the cutest visitors I have around here, and I am so happy that they made a comeback after having been gone for two years from my yard. Titmice often flock with Chickadees and have an impressive call that can be quite melodious and goes PETERPETERPETER! And that is the November bird in my calendar.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar here at ostdrossel.com or here.
Also keep an eye on my Insta and FB tomorrow, there will be a little Christmas surprise.
I am a spring lover,
but fall is one of the prettiest of the seasons in Michigan, with nature glowing in all shades of yellow, gold, ombre and red. The October bird in the calendar is an especially colorful House Finch that shows through his colors the abundance of natural foods he has found here. They might be more “boring” because they are here year round and abundant, but I truly appreciate these sweet birds.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar here at ostdrossel.com or here.
The end of summer
is always bittersweet, but for the birdwatcher it is also an exciting time because there are young birds all over the place. It is very entertaining to watch them explore the world, lead by their parents. The August in my calendar shows a parent American Robin and his adorably proud youngster. They are the state bird of Michigan, even if they migrate more south in the cold season, and I always eagerly await their arrival.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar here at ostdrossel.com or here.
July is full of sunshine,
which can be rare during the winter. The July bird in my calendar is another bird that visits here only for the warm season, the Baltimore Oriole. They love grape jelly and oranges, and I love their songs and the effect seeing them has on my mood (I also call them vitamin O).
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar here at ostdrossel.com or here.
This House Sparrow girl
seems to be in love with a Starling. An unlikely pair but he let her sit right next to him for a bit.
We have been getting
a bit of winter weather recently. Snow days always bring in the birds, so it is fun to watch the feeders on days like that.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks
are one of the birds that come to spend spring and summer here, so this is the bird of June in my calendar. I love these guys. They look quite impressive with the big beak and red bib, but they are one of the calmest birds at the feeders. They will eat through a thunderstorm, their babies make the cutest little noises when they beg for food, they get along with everybody, and when they are excited, they will make the squeak of a rubber ducky.
My calendars are available here at ostdrossel.com or here.
Mr. Meow
is the May bird in this year's calendar, he is a Grey Catbird. This species has hung around longer for the first time this year. They get their name from their call that sounds like a kitty. My birthday is in May too and I am a cat lover, so I chose this elegant and entertaining bird for the lovely month of May.
Calendars are available at here ostdrossel.com or here.
Dark, moody, mysterious and powerful,
that can be the weather of April, and that is also the time when the Grackles start to arrive in larger numbers. As many know, they have a special place in my heart, and I lovingly call the dominant male of the season Count Grackula. This year, it might very well have been this gorgeous one in the photo.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar in my shop here or following the link here at ostdrossel.com.
It is funny how when it gets colder,
the Cardis are coming out more and more. They do look like ornaments in the trees and just delight with their shenanigans and their spectacular hairdo.
This particular one is dedicated to Kris who we heard is a huge Cardinal lover. Kris, we wish you and your loved ones strength and good energy and send you all the love. Have a wonderful Christmas!
March is generally a month
that is full of anicipation for me while nothing really much is happening yet. We might still get snow, but there are signs of spring. Like Bluebirds scouting nestboxes. The March couple in the calendar are a female (left) and a male (right). I give them new names each year because I can never really be sure if it’s the same couple. Bluebirds are very territorial, and I have seen males and females alike fight the most gruesome battles. They are one of my favorite birds, and I immensely enjoy being able to watch them raise their babies.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar in my shop here or following the link here at ostdrossel.com.