ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Jan 30, 2023 9:52:44 GMT
I was delighted today when a very large murmuration of Bohemian Waxwings that had caught my attention when it cast a shadow through my window, landed in the tops of Spruce trees, in and around my backyard. They took turns flying down to hastily grab a berry or two from a Mountain Ash tree before returning to their high perches, allowing the next shift of waxwings from their flock to do the same. It was difficult to get photos of them that show their colours because they were between my house and the sun. Swallowing a berry by diffuse, on Flickr Three Amigos by diffuse, on Flickr When some landed on a tree across the street from me, I was able to see the birds in the sunlight: Resting in the sun on a cold day by diffuse, on Flickr
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Feb 13, 2023 14:33:00 GMT
Love your bird photos! We get the Cedar waxwinfgs, but if any Bohemian waxwings have visited along with them they remained incognito.
Both the Black-capped chickadees and their cousins the Tufted titmice are trying out their spring mating songs.. We still have some winter to go, but their songs are my personal first sign of Spring. Snow tonight, but not a deluge.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Feb 20, 2023 10:14:00 GMT
Maeve, Keeping track of changes in bird behaviour can be a comforting reminder that spring will surely return, inspite of weather that tells us otherwise. I envy you with so many different kinds of birds that never get to this side of the Rocky Mountains, or remain farther south from me.
The Bohemian Waxwings are only here in the winter. Cedar Waxwings breed here in summer, but in much smaller numbers that the winter birds who only come here to feed on berries and other available winter fruit. If there was a Bohemian Waxwing in a flock of Cedar Waxwings that was close enough for you to see individual birds, you would be sure to notice the difference in colouring.
We are expecting colder weather again for three days this coming week, with nighttime lows from -13F to -17F (-24C to -27c), am not looking forward to that.
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Feb 22, 2023 21:40:15 GMT
How odd- the previous posts (and now this one) have all turned into italics!
Two male Red-wing blackbirds are here, two weeks earlier than last year.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Feb 26, 2023 3:17:02 GMT
Maeve, I don't see the italics. I wonder what is causing it to display that way for you?
Do you think that the Red-winged Blackbirds will be okay there early? The weather all over the continent seems to be very unsettled.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Feb 26, 2023 3:17:12 GMT
My email bird list has been busy today with people reporting in that there hasn't been much change in feeder attendance this past week when we had over a foot of snow in 24 hours, followed by several days of strong north wind, and now, promise of another foot or so of snow, over two days.
The only small surprise was the arrival of a Varied Thrush, on schedule, in spite of the difficult weather. The woman who reported it, lives only a few blocks from me, so I'll be watching for it here.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Feb 26, 2023 8:23:31 GMT
This Male Intergrade Northern Ficker has markings of both (Eastern) Yellow-shafted and (Western) Red-shafted. He's been making his presence known by digging in the frozen soil in my window boxes and hanging on the sides of my seed feeders and tipping out seed into the deep snow while he eats. Today he was trying to figure out how to pull out peanuts from the squirrel feeder. When there's a will?He's getting closer. He might figure it out? There might be a way?
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Feb 27, 2023 21:13:29 GMT
Oh, a Varied thrush in one's yard would be so fun- and the flicker is gorgeous!
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Mar 7, 2023 6:52:08 GMT
I haven't seen a varied thrush yet this year. I hope that they will stay south a while longer. We have too much snow, and still more is coming our way. Pathways in the snow The last time I needed to use the big gas snowblower to clear the driveway, I cut paths in the back yard to my compost box, and to the "tree house" that is used when grandchildren or great grandchildren visit. The paths are there for use by neighbours' cats who come through my yard, and sometimes stop to visit with me. They also help with the melting when the last thaw finally does come. There is much more snow on my front lawn because all the snow from the driveway was moved there and the snow removal crews use a loader to remove windrows left by the ploughs and pile that snow and ice on my lawn. Will I ever see my house again? One of the Flickers who frequents my yard was drumming on the metal vent from my furnace this morning. It's a sound not like any other. Every spring it catches me off guard until I remember what it is.
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Mar 21, 2023 11:42:34 GMT
At the moment nights are 8-18 F, but daytime highs around 40-50 have melted much of the old snow. We've had our usual winter robins- usually in groups of 2-4, but the first Spring flock of robins appeared i the orchard yesterday for the first day of spring. I've seen or heard three small flocks of Canada geese returning, possibly including the pair that nests near the river each year... their flight path morning and evening was the same at any rate.
Red-winged blackbirds male returned about a month ago, with females joining them as of a couple of weeks ago, and Song sparrows are here now. The 5 resident bluebirds stayed all winter and are watching for me to put out dried grubs for their yummy breakfast, Starlings have slipped down here from the local dairy farms, and we do our best to help them go back "home". They are endangered in England, so it's too bad we can't relocate them back there.
Currently researching varieties and selections of Cornus mas - Cornelian cherries- really a dogwood. I've asked to be notified when three Ukranian varieties are available.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Mar 25, 2023 3:11:26 GMT
Maeve, You seem to have Spring birds so much earlier than we do here. I have a vague memory of reading that six European Starlings were imported to New York, many years ago, by someone devoted to Shakespeare, who wanted to have every bird mentioned in his works represented there. They've done extremely well on this side of the pond. Although March 20th was the Equinox and "First Day of Spring" in this hemisphere. At my latitude, the Equilux, the moment when Day and night are truly equal length, took place on March 17th. That was the day that Spring bird activity began here. This darling little Varied Thrush arrived in my back yard, on St. Patrick's Day along with a small flock of bashful migrating American Robins, who stayed far enough from my camera that their presence was not recorded. Early arrival
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Mar 25, 2023 19:38:41 GMT
Oh, how lovely the Varied Thrush is! We would love to see one here.
As I understand it, quite a few of our "spring birds" are really short-migration birds that stay in the general area, migrating only a few states away rather than traveling to South America or the like.
With equal parts penny penching, trepidation and determination: I have ordered, received and set up a 6x8 collapsable-frame greenhouse to raise seedlings and the (many!) plants that will begin arriving in a couple of weeks. If I can't really use the commercial greenhouse frame without a carpenter willing to build end walls, I can at least take care of seedlings and newly arrived starts until weather and garden beds are ready.
Spring holds hours of digging for me.
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Apr 7, 2023 10:51:00 GMT
Maeve, I hope that the little greenhouse will magically manage to contain, protect and nurture the many seedlings and other plants you plan to put into it. I'd expect that many birds go only as far as necessary to find a reliable source of food over the months when there is little or none in their usual summer home. There is little activity at my backyard feeders these days. I've seen no sign of the juncos, House Sparrows, House Finches, and Red-breasted Nuthatches, that were always at the feeders whenever I looked out a window. Two Black-capped Chickadees have been coming for sunflower seeds. I suspect that the scarcity of small birds in my yard might be due to a pair of crows spending a lot of time here, or possibly because of the return of the Merlin who is a summer resident in the neighborhood? Back for another great summer! The Northern Flickers are spending their time letting prospective mates know they are available, by Calling loudly, then drumming on anything that will make a lot of noise.
|
|
maeve
Member
Posts: 1,156
|
Post by maeve on Apr 7, 2023 11:53:22 GMT
I'm sure yu are correct regarding migration short trips!
Rags, I always like your bird photos in particular and the Merlin is wonderful- as its its mere presence. I especially love the drumming flicker on smokestack(?)! That's a prize-worthy pair of photos!
|
|
ragdall
Global Moderator
Posts: 1,686
|
Post by ragdall on Apr 24, 2023 8:37:56 GMT
The only small birds I've seen in my yard lately is a pair of Black-capped Chickadees. It's very unusual for it to be so quiet here. I wonder if the Merlin perched near the top of a tall Spruce across the street and screeching, has put the small birds off? Or perhaps the pair of crows that seem to be nesting nearby are scaring the songbirds? I'll be very sad if the big birds keep the smaller ones away. Even the flickers have disappeared. Perhaps I have a neighbour who feels differently from me about birds and is actively discouraging them? The hummingbirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and White-crowned Sparrows should be here soon. That will be a chance to find out if my yard has suddenly stopped being a bird attraction.
|
|