Rarely does a bird
match the enthusiasm of a MoDo at the feeder. It was another boring day here today birdwise, but at some point, about 30 Mourning Doves rained down to feed. In my head, they all looked like this one 😆
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 Friday!
Today, I will continue with the introduction of the birds of this year’s calendar with the bird of January, a Dark-eyed Junco. Juncos, also nicknamed “snowbird”, are only visiting my area in the cold season, they stay from about November until April. This makes them harbingers of winter but also of spring in a way. They are hardy little birds that come in an astounding variety of color, depending on region as well as gender. They usually forage on the ground, looking for seed by scratching with both feet at the same time, which looks rather funny. They also sound like tiny laser guns, and their pink beaks make them extra adorable. The one in the photo has a little brown in the feathers, which makes it a bit special because my usual variety is a dark slate gray with a while belly. Come good into the weekend!
You can find the 2022 Ostdrossel calendar here: https://www.createphotocalendars.com/Shop/ostdrossel
There is often confusion
when it comes to the identification of Purple Finches and House Finches. I rarely have Purples visiting, so most of the time my Finches will be House Finches. They can vary in color a lot, depending on their diet. Here is a particularly vibrant male. Not a Purple Finch, even if the color might suggest that. This bird has the typical streaked chest, head and beak of a House Finch, and while they are not visible here, also the non-red wing bars mark him as a House Finch.
That Redbellied Woodpecker
with the interesting head colors is so intriguing to me. I do think it is a male, and it feels like I might have seen one like that last fall too but I am not entirely sure. The interesting part can be seen a bit better here. He has some of the grey-blue that the females have over his eyes. Usually, the males only have red. I think it gives him a more dramatic look.
In the last couple of days,
temperatures have gone down a lot. I got a kick out of my impeccable timing with the bird bath (I know, I am getting old, I guess 😛) - there was actual frost on the lawn and roof yesterday in the morning. The Blue Jays have returned to the feeders in larger numbers to sample and collect peanuts, which they then proceed to hide. This is the week where the serviceberry has beautiful fall colors, and I love how the Blue Jays couple with it.
Isn’t it funny
how the trees seem to change their color within a day? The sun was out too, and it was just spectacular outside with all the vibrance of nature, the greens (there is still a lot!), the yellows, the oranges, the red and even dark purples. I am a spring person, and fall is my second favorite, I think. And days like today are most enjoyable. The birds look fabulous against dramatic skies and foliage, and activity finally seems to pick up a bit. These are all from yesterday and today. There are at least three Redbellied Woodpeckers. One female, one male and one where I am not entirely sure (first photo). Everybody is cacheing - collecting nuts and seeds to store away for later.
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.
The weather
has been gloomy and wet these last couple of days, and there is still not a lot going on. So I am taking this time to introduce the birds of this year’s calendar a bit over the course of the next days / weeks. The title photo this year shows a Cardinal couple. As one can also see from the sparse vegetation in the back, this was taken in spring. Cardinals are in my yard throughout the year but in spring they start appearing together more often because mating season begins. Part of their courting ritual is that the male is feeding the female. It kind of looks like they are kissing, and is always wonderful to behold. This photo was part of a series in which he fed her several times. I love how pretty they both look, it is no comparison to the rough molty look at the end of the season. Come good into the weekend!
The Ostdrossel 2022 calendars are available here.
As I promised,
here are some more Bluebird photos. And it is funny, but sometimes I feel like my setup was just made for them, they usually get the best shots and videos. It might be their size but maybe also their behavior. They seemingly like to sit and examine. With resting birb face 🤣 The second to last photo nicely shows the color difference between male (left) and female (right) 💙
Like many other parts of the country,
we got a lot of rain yesterday. The birds got properly sokaed but many flocked to the feeders, even for “seed soup”. When you have larger feeders that are exposed to rain or moisture, make sure to check for signs of mold and change out the food and clean the feeders accordingly. I loved the eerie quality of this Goldfinch photo.
MONDAY's (almost) HERE!
The BBs have returned every single day since they first started showing up again the other week. There is four of them, and they always go straight for the nestbox and excitedly sit and move around it, taking turns on looking in, and also go to the mealworm feeder. I am short on mealers right now but whenever I notice them, I will add a couple to the cam feeders. Curiously enough, the Starlings almost immediately show up too. How do they freaking know?! More BB pics tomorrow. Nighty and come good into the week!
Yesterday, we had the first frost warning
of the season, and it is only fitting that on that day, a “snowbird” made his way to the camera. Dark-Eyed Juncos only visit here when it is cold, and the first ones have arrived earlier this week. They make the funniest little noises and are generally cool to have around. Pic number 3 shows a White-throated Sparrow that has been very curious but not made it to the food bowl yet. Maybe today is the day? Happy Sunday and stay warm!
Today was a good day!
Something happened that I have been wishing to happen for as long as I have done this whole experiment. As you know I have been “stalking” a certain Cardinal teen, but he was not cooperating the way I wanted. Well, that ended today, and I present you him in all his polka dotted teenage glory. 😍 A White-throated Sparrow and several Juncos have also checked out the same area today, so I will place a camera there again tomorrow. But I am so happy to see his beauty up close finally! Young Cardinals are camouflaged and only start to get more color as they age. The beak turns to the characteristic orange-red when they are one year old. In the meantime, the plumage will pick up more and more red with the males. So there is only a certain time when they look like this. I love him!
I am sorry for not posting more frequently
right now, but work is busy and there is also not really a ton going on bird-wise. Nature is amazing right now and providing a lot of food to birds and wildlife. It is a bumper crop year for Black Walnuts and acorns here, and I am excited to see what that means for the winter bird population. Here is a view into the current regulars, furried and feathered. Also, since it is Thursday - check out the Ostdrossel calendars!
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.
I don't know if it is really them,
but I think Dr. Clara and Mandrake came back! The Bluebirds are somewhat camera shy and I feel horrible still because of the Wren debacle but this morning, they were back! A group of four! They checked out the nestbox and Mandrake (I will call the resident male that this year) even came to the food bowl. I always have mealworms out for them but they haven’t been touched in months. I hope they will come back and stay as it gets colder. I also saw the first Juncos today. Fall is really here. Happy Monday!
Well, well...
I AM IN A BOOK! It is massive, it is beautiful, and I am on the very last page, right after Sibley and Peterson 😃 The cover is beautifully embossed, and it is a very interesting collection "celebrating the beauty and appeal of birds throughout art, history and culture". I am not trying to sell anything, just sharing because I am a bit proud 😎 (If you do want to get one, searching for the title online will get you where you want to be.)
The regulars
are all hanging in there despite the rain and muddy atmosphere outside, and here are some of them. The Blue Jays are giving their nickname that I gave them, blue screemers, full worth, and sometimes I am not sure what is even going on - are they screaming because they see food? Haha. Then there is a House Finch and a Chickadee. Come good into the weekend!
