Video: BBs checking nestbox
These two have been coming back every so often recently, each time taking a piece of a wood shaving. I love to see them but it is also so cute how they vocally communicate. The box is a Gilwood that I built, the camera is a Wyze. It is not a perfect setup yet but I loved this little video.
Video: Shake your tail feather!
It's Friday, and even the birds are ready to shake their tail feather 😁 The Cooper's Hawk was back again today, checking out the bird bath to see if there's a catch to have. He has come twice yesterday, and at some point, the birds actually came back to eat and he just sat there, waiting for his chance. Once he got going, everybody successfully escaped. His plumage marks him as an immature, so maybe he just needs more practice. Such a pretty bird! Come good into the weekend.
Video: Starlings cannot read.
And apparently they feel dirty constantly. I have been out cleaning and refilling several times, and while I generally don’t have issues with that, it is rather frosty outside and maintaining the bath is a bit harder in the winter. My little sign was to vent my frustration a bit, and they took it as a challenge - it only lasted seven minutes 🤣 Anyways, here is a little clip. The music is a copyright free piece by DISMENTOPIA Taiwan. Enjoy!
Video: Thirsty birds!
The bird bath is very busy this morning - a nice opportunity to watch the different ways how birds drink. Some take several little sips, like the Finches and Bluebirds, some drink dramatically with an open beak like the Starling, and others drink like they were on a bender the night before, like the MoDo.
Video: Happy National Bird Day!
There are plenty of Juncos around at the moment, they seem to thrive in ice and snow. I always loved their little pew-pew-pew sounds but this trill was completely new to me. How stinking adorable is that?
Video: Light in the winter
is something special, and I love how Michigan is treating me with it on some evenings. Tonight was one of these, and the resident Red-breasted Nuthatch was one of the last ones to come to the feeder to choose that perfect bite for dinner. Here’s to a good Monday!
Video: Snow day surprise!
I heard about Carolina Wrens in Michigan birdwatching groups but never saw one myself. Until today! What a fun surprise. I hope it sticks aropund for a bit and also checks out the other feeding stations.
Video: The peanut choice
Blue Jays love shelled peanuts. They will take them to a secret spot to hide them for later, a process called caching. They use a simple but effective method to find out which nuts are the best - they lift them one after another to figure out their weight. These two here have perfected that process.
Video: Scenes from the Santa Stop
The yard has been quite busy today, with many birds (including a hawk earler) visiting the bird baths and feeders. Here is a fun little scene from the bath earlier, a gathering at the Santa Stop. With Goldfinches, House Finches, Bluebirds, Juncos and at the end an American Tree Sparrow. I love snow days.
Video: Owlie has seen some things...
It’s been a week, and Owlie has gotten a lot of attention from the birds here, and has changed a bit in appearance. You can’t see that the back is almost entirely eaten already. I love that this feeder invites several species to eat together, they usually don’t always like to share so much… Here we have one of my favorites, a Redbreasted Nuthatch (I think it is a male, his head cap is all black, the females have grey there), and a Goldfinch. This was taken with the Birdsy Cam, and in case you have not heard yet - they have now launched in the US and you can get a camera in their current Christmas sale. Check out their website at birdsy.com.
Video: Snow days are fun
because frosty conditions make the birds flock to the feeders. It is of course looking especially pretty when the sun is shining too. All the pretty snow has pretty much melted already but here is a little visitor medley from earlier.
Video: Last but not least,
Herr von Bödefeld finally made another showing too 😍 I always feel so bad for opossums in the winter and want to make them little possum mittens. By the way, if you find little compact pellets in your feeders in the mornings, you might have an opossum coming around to feed. They munch on the seeds and then make a compact pellet out of the hulls and spit that out. It is not poop!
Video: Spa day for "Owlie"
I hung this feeder yesterday, it is made of sunflower seeds, peanuts, some fruit and I think thistle. It is a crowd pleaser, and it was hilarious to watch them give the "owl" a wellness treatment on this beautiful snow morning. The Birdsy camera got a bit confused over night because it thought there was an actual owl there too 😄
Video: Cardinals are around my yard
all year but not always super present at the feeders. However, now that fall is here, they are coming out in larger numbers. And just like holiday lighting, the beautiful sight of them seems to help coping with the darkness of the cold season. Now that the clocks have changed, they are basically doing a public service in that respect. I’ve had up to eight of these glorious birds out there at the same time in winter before. That is one reason to look forward to snow 😁 A group has started visiting the bird bath in the evenings more regularly now. Here’s two of the males. Have a pleasant Monday!
Happy Halloween!
I had a bit of a technical mishap yesterday and was not able to work on photos. Today, I will use the sunny weather and mild temperatures to close the pond for the season and set up the heated bath, so the livestream will be off for a bit. I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween! Count Grackula is already excited 😎 New photos tomorrow evening.
Video: It’s thrush season!
The last couple of days, the air has sounded a lot like spring, with Robins, Grackles, Redwinged Blackbirds and Starlings calling and coming to feeders, Bluebirds visiting again and temperatures in the 20’s (Celsius). I spotted a couple of White-crowned Sparrows, some White-throated Sparrows too. And then this cutie. I believe it is a Hermit Thrush, at one point you can see a little red on the tail. It stayed by the water for about 20 minutes and looked pretty alert. I hope it comes back tomorrow.
I also worked a bit on the livestream, trying to figure out why people might not see it. It would be nice if people could comment in the comments if there are still issues. Maybe clear your cache before you load the page.
Video: Thirsty bun
Good morning! The yard is still slim pickings when it comes to birds but there was a thirsty bunny at the pond last night that I thought people might enjoy. It is still very mild out and I think I will give the pond one more thorough cleaning before I close it for the season.
Two days ago, there were Bluebirds at the Gilbertson box, and I heard them yesterday in the morning too. This made me incredibly happy because they have been absent since the Wren destroyed their eggs earlier this summer. I hope they will start sticking around again, I miss seeing these lovelies. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Video: Finally!
I have been stalking this adorable little stinker for a couple of weeks now, a young Cardinal. I keep hearing it begging for food from the parents but the whole family is camera shy. This morning, however, he came for a sip at the bird bath. The beak is still brown and will only change to the characteristic red when the bird has reached one year of age. The plumage will slowly start to fill in more with color too. I love this "tie-dye" stage on them.
Apart from that, there is very little going on in the yard still. The leaves are starting to turn, the air smells like fall, and it is raining Black Walnuts. This means for me that winter prep is still ongoing. Each morning, I go out with a helmet on to collect them (they are big and fall from tall trees and I like my head). I also saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch this morning, which is wonderful news because you never know if they will return. Hopefully, it will also check out the camera feeders. Have a nice Wednesday!
Video: Look who it is!
In the last weeks and months, I mostly saw skunks and raccoons in the night recordings, but look who was back last night, happily running into the frame 😁 Herr von Bödefeld! I love Opossums and always feel lucky to have them visiting my yard. And I hope this one returns for some more muncher videos.
Video: Another lovely migratory surprise
Rosebreasted Grosbeaks come here in spring, stay during summer and raise their babies, and usually leave my area pretty early, like in August. Today, these two showed up, a young female and male. The female comes in first, she has the yellow “armpits”, then the male comes in, with red “armpits” and a bit onf the red bib showing too. I hope they have safe travels! Come good into Monday!
