May 18, 2011

Backyard Fun!

I have had a tremendous amount of action in the backyard lately. Not at the feeders, but lots of migrants foraging for insects in the trees.

We'll start with the suet feeder. The starlings have been active (ugh!), but when given the opportunity, Downy Woodpeckers, Flickers, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees are grabbing a bite to eat.



I bought this new, locally made recycled plastic suet feeder and it is bird approved!!



I don't recall a year when I have seen so many Warbling Vireos. I have been seeing them daily for the last few days now.





Song Sparrows are singing...




It seems the Black-capped Chickadees abandoned the nest box, but Chestnut-backed Chickadees might be using the other one!
They visit the suet feeder all day long.


I saw the first damselfly of the season.
A Pacific Forktail I think.


And the best for last! Western Tanagers have been foraging through the maple tree the last few days. (Although here he is in the filbert tree.)





And finally, another retro camera photo:

8 comments:

  1. The Western Tanagers are absolutely beautiful. Oh, the sweet mourning dove. A sweet mama built her nest atop my husband's ladder. When he needed it, he put the nest in a plastic basket and attached it to the shed where the ladder had been leaning. That little mama bird is so happy in there. I'll have to snap a photo.

    Yesterday, I had a bird experience and I don't know what I saw. I was in the backyard after dinner and I was standing below the apple tree. I heard whining above me, and there were a flock of faint-breasted birds and it looked like they had crowns. From below, it looked like a flock of female cardinals. (???) I am absolutely perplexed. They immediately flew off and I could get no other look at them, but that whining song sticks with me.

    Heh. I didn't mean to write a novel here. :)

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  2. Such a lot of action! I haven't had so much in a few weeks but back then it was buckets of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
    Jodi, I think you saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings.

    Laura

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  3. Jodi: I love that story! I want a Robin to nest in my yard too!
    Thanks Laura, I wasn't sure what bird it would be. I couldn't remember where Jodi is, but I looked at her blog and she's in Wisconsin. I'm not so familiar with birds there.

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  4. LOVELY! It's such a fun time of year. Our robin fledged her babies; the bluebirds are feeding theirs continually; the tree swallows are getting close to finally laying their eggs and a mama cardinal is now sitting on a nest in our lilac bush. I wonder how many others are nesting we don't know of!

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  5. Awesome birds and photos. Gee, I would love to have the Western Tanager in my yard. What a gorgeous bird.

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  6. You have such great yard birds! And I love the retro photos you've been taking...

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  7. I have yet to see a Warbling Vireo this spring...will have to keep my eyes peeled. My woodpecker activity has lessened but it looks like you still have some gorgeous visitors!

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  8. What a fascinating variety of birds! It makes me miss living in more woodsy areas.

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