Yardbird appetites

A Towhee that hides along the brushline and hops in and out of leaf clutter was seen bathing last week in my birdbath. This Towhee is quite shy and will flutter down from the bath and away into the brush to hide if you even attempt to get within 20 feet of him.

I have to refill my sunflower seeds daily for the three bird feeders in my yard. It seems that the pair of Pine Siskin, Chestnut-back Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch and Junco's are feasting more regularly then I first thought. The decreased Junco population this spring (down from the winter count of 12 to 14) has not really affected the rate at which I have to replace seed. I have been replacing seed more NOW than during the winter. The appearance of a pair of Pine Siskin, who regularly sit for great lengths of time, may be the culprits.

Do two Pine Siskin eat more than twelve Junco? My unscientific study indicates, YES. I would like more information on bird appetites during the Spring to either confirm or dispel my newfound theory..... lol

Mr. Ed Newbold kindly sent me a free birdhouse for having entered into his Yard Bird Race in 2009. I was very excited to pick this up from the Post Office this weekend. A treat!

I have had a few woodpecker visits to the 1/2 eaten suet feeder. I've set out a new suet feeder that the Chickadees seem to enjoy. The suet seems more enjoyable on colder mornings and afternoons.

Rufous Hummingbird

March 22, 2010

After having my head buzzed with the "engine like" noise of a hummer's wings the day before yesterday (21 March 2010) , I have finally seen the first hummingbird of the year: Rufous. He flew out of the trees and paused at the fronds of an Ocean Spray and Evergreen tree, then flew back into the treeline. Many of the Junco's (12-15) that are usually at my feeders are now absent and for a day were replaced by Stellar's Jay and about seven Crow. Driving, I noticed an adult Bald Eagle circling near the JBLM-McChord Roy gate. It appears that many predators(Hawks and Eagles) have been enjoying the warmer weather, lately. Towards Puyallup and 1/2 way to the South Hill mall exit this weekend I spotted a Hawk, too, circling to the right of the freeway. There were many Robins (6 or 7) ground feeding with Towhee's and a Rock Pigeon yesterday afternoon.

Eagles dominate Crows infiltrate

For the past two sunny afternoons, an Eagle has been circling just above tree top level. Three Canada Geese flew over the tree tops yesterday evening at dusk in the direction of the pond. My normal bunch of 12-15 Juncos have been absent. Visits to the feeder are primarily from a pair of Pine Siskin and a pair of Red-Breasted Nuthatch and a Chestnut backed chickadee or two. I have heard Towhees and Stellar Jay in the back brush and have seen at least one of the pair of Varied Thrush. Junco's are largely absent at the feeders and have taken to flitting in the lower branches of evergreen trees. The Stellar Jay annoy my puppy as do the squirrels here in the green belt. Puppy would love to chase them away! I wonder if the absence of Junco's has anything to do with the increased number of crows in the area? Are the Junco's nesting now? Or have they moved? I have noticed quite a few more bugs in the afternoon.

We have had quite a bit of heli traffic in the past month, too. This week I noticed that a group of 6 or 7 crows perched in various tree top locations across approx. 2 acres, call to each other using three caws each and in turn each will respond with three caws. Once, a crow called six or seven caws in quick succession where all seven simultaneously flew away from the direction of an approaching helicopter. I believe that crows are very intelligent. Some say that they can even recognize human faces.

One night, just at dark, there was a bird that flew right by me. It was small in size with pointed wing tips. I wonder if it was a nighthawk.

Good Birding Today!

My backyard became a feast for no less than 20 - 30 Juncos, 3 Towhees, and 3 Varied Thrush this afternoon. It was a treat to watch the Junco's flit back and forth among themselves pecking at whatever they thought was good to eat on the ground about 2:30pm. Grey clouds were moving in by 3PM and it seemed so much later in the evening. I hope it doesn't snow, but it just might.

Yesterday evening there was a small flock of geese that flew over quite low and were heading East. I wonder where they were headed. I'll have to check my pond and lake maps for the nearest water body. I imagine a few have iced over in the past few days.

The Varied Thrush are uncommon visitors here and as soon as I attempted to snap a photo... I was spotted and they flew off!

[AND Thank you, C. Southwick for the wonderful idea. Wrapping a hummingbird feeder in Christmas lights just might be the trick to keeping the ice away! ]

Cross Posted to TWEETERS

Sunny Day Wednesday

Two very large flocks of geese flew East on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.  There were three "V" formations and one small line. Each "V" consisted of about 30 geese and they flew side by side in two V patterns, the smallest line flew in the middle.

Does this mean that these two flocks have different "leaders"?

The Merlin/Hawk was spotted today sitting atop an electric line, in an open area, 1/8 of mile from where he/she was spotted several weeks ago.  Still pale grey breast (fluffy today), flat tucked head, long thin tail, very small in stature.

Flying just two blocks North of where I live there were also two Bald Eagles circling less than 1/4 mile away from the Merlin/Hawk.

A robin visited my yard Wednesday, too along with the usual Junco's, Towhee's, Black capped chickadees, and Jays.

There was also a visit from a woodpecker, but he was too high into the trees for me to identify his profile/shadow.

It was great to see the Merlin/Hawk back, especially with the Bald Eagles flying within a very short distance from his perch. 

Burien, WA had an episode on the news last night where two Bald Eagles were fighting in someone's residential backyard.  I have never heard of Bald Eagles fighting before - so I found that interesting to say the least.  The poor homeowner heard the ruckus from inside his home and definitely said that that THUMP wasn't a squirrel!  The Bald Eagles were actually duking it out within 2 feet of the homeowners house in his backyard and may have rolled off of the roof fighting!

Sunning predators

Unidentified bird with a black head, clinging to a tree drumming for
sap or bugs, drumming pattern of 5 or 6 stopping momentarily looking
around, back to drumming with 5 or 6 beats, black wings with a solid
white bar down its wing edges, long pointy beak, black tail - wasn't
able to see underside tail area or breast. Very small bird, but not
as small as a brown tree creeper. The only drummer this week!

A black capped chickadee does frequent a side yard feeder, while the
Junco's prefer to ground feed and flit among the evergreen branches.
Some hover. The Towhee's enjoy the bath when the ice is replaced with
water and will feed at a plate placed in the bath of millet seed.
Once it appeared that the Towhee's AND the Junco's were at the bath
togather. These Towhee's have more brown across their breast than the
illustrations in Peterson's. Usually the Towhee's will come after the
Junco's. There is one small bird, smaller than a Warbler, that has
three yellow stripes across its crown sided by black stripes who is
friendly. He hopped right up to a branch within a foot or less of me
as I replaced the bath water. There were so many birds enjoying this
bath I couldn't count them all this week! Most were a flock of
Junco's.

There were several predatory birds flying around yesterday afternoon
in the sun at an altitude of 1,500 ft. and 500 ft. and less. One Bald
Eagle flying with two other Bald Eagles. They circled for several
minutes high over the tree tops. There was a commotion of Crows that
distracted my viewing and harrassing what appeared to be the light
grey Merlin who frequented two or three weeks ago. The Merlin appears
to be in the same general location as he was the first time I spotted
him. He must be nesting nearby. It's flight pattern, much different
from that of a hawk and its wings taking a more angular shape. The
crow was able to get within two feet or less of the Merlin and was
flying in a straight line towards him when the Merlin changed
direction. It (The Merlin) darted sharply up and swiftly turned as
the Crow attempted to chase the Merlin away just above the tree tops.
After this commotion the juvenille Bald Eagle flew North just above
the tree tops and one Bald Eagle flew East. The Bald Eagles appear to
be circling over the nearby man-made lake. Looking hungry perhaps and
sunning. There were no clouds yesterday afternoon.

Repost TWET

Spotted Towhee and Steller's Jay

My suet, and bird feeders are taking a beating from the local Steller Jays. I did manage to sneak a peek at a Towhee yesterday. The Jays, I believe are chasing away other birds at my feeders. They have really dominated my feeders in the past few days.
I noticed a few ducks at the pond that looked like Canadian Geese.

Spotted Towhee

This spotted towhee looks almost like a robin, but its tail is longer and uplifted and his wings are spotted white and black.