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.
Every person
that feeds birds at one point will encounter one situation. The critters will find out that there is food, and they will try to get to those goodies. There is a number of ways to keep the bird food budget tight - with the help of squirrel-proof feeders or foods - but some also enjoy watching these entertaining rodents. This one looked so adorable that I decided to include it in the calendar this year. Meet the September “bird”.
You can get an Ostdrossel calendar here on 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.
The February bird
in my calendar is a Song Sparrow. This is a species that I rarely get in front of my cameras or in my backyard. The photo was taken on a lovely day that I spent at the Belle Isle Nature Center in Detroit last winter, talking to fellow nature lovers and showing my setup. They were nice enough to allow me to set up my camera outside their fabulous birdwatching window, and that is when this beautiful native sparrow came. It was a day full of snow, and I absolutely loved the wild, wintery background.
Christmas is getting closer
and in the days leading up to it, I am going to go through this year's calendar birds. You can get an Ostdrossel calendar in my shop here or following the link here at ostdrossel.com. There are four sizes available (the 8.5 one has a second, larger option).
The cover bird is a MoDo. This species has turned out to be an exceptional camera lover that creates some of the most hilarious portraits. The January bird is a male Red-bellied Woodpecker. They are quirky goofballs with a love for nuts, and we have them here all year. Last summer, we built a nestbox that would fit them, and we hope to get to see them raise a brood one day.
Of all the birds that visit my feeders,
I think it is safe to say the Mourning Doves take most portraits. I think it has to do with their greediness a bit, they love the small bowl that only allows for one bird to feed at a time. If another bird approaches, they put the wing up and move around to protect the bounty. They can be overwhelming in numbers and appetite. But they are experts at being models for bird portraits, so that evens things out a bit.
The Royals
came out to show off in the sun today. I have several Cardi couples around, and recently, this female has started coming to the Birdsy cam in the early mornings and evenings. I was happy to finally see her on the photo cam today. It is not the original Queen Red Eyebrow, but she has some pretty strong markings too. The male always either comes shortly before or after her.
During the winter,
a magical bird finds its way down to Michigan and enchants everybody who sees it. The Snowy Owl. This morning, we got up very early and went to an area where we thought we might see one (I will not disclose the location so there is no need to ask).
We got lucky. She was far away, too far for my humble lens to produce decent photos, but we got to witness the magic with our own eyes. My footage does not really do the bird justice, but I hope you still enjoy.
There is a lot of attention to them this year, probably because there are so many new birdwatchers, so it is good to remind everybody of proper etiquette - give them their space and put their safety first. No photo is worth a stressed out animal. Here is a great link with more information (https://www.projectsnowstorm.org/snowy-owl-etiquette/.
The House Finches
are really interesting this year. These are three different guys, all the same species, yet each of them looking beautiful in his own different way. Nature makes the dull days still a bit exciting with that. And it keeps my mind active because I constantly think about where the birds go to dine out and what native plants I can add to my garden to make it more attractive to them. Have a beautiful Thursday!
The small crowd
for the winter - these guys are very diligent and alert and work all day to get their winter stashes ready. I also saw a Brown Creeper today, and I am sure he appreciates every morsel the Nuthatches are hiding in the trees.
(House Finch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch)
