Yesterday out the bedroom window watched a Hermit Thrush jump around in the privet. It seems to be early, but there he was.
Yesterday out the bedroom window watched a Hermit Thrush jump around in the privet. It seems to be early, but there he was.
Today saw my first official Winter Bird.
Snapped this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker through my window.
I'll get better photos as the Winter wears on. I see them often.
Many of my trees and most of my shrubs are filled with small holes made by these guys.
These holes are called sapwells. The holes bleed, and the Sapsucker drinks. Other birds and critters also use these.
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Mystery Bird
You guys like a mystery.
Sat down and this bird landed off about 15ft. I got one shot and he was gone.
So who is this?
Warblers can be hard to ID, but is this even a Warbler.
Here is some help and things to look for when we see a bird.
We can see some things.
- The large pronounced white eye ring is the starting point.
- Wing bars with a black stripe below the white
- Yellow back
- Yellow on tail
- Yellow beside tail
- Dark head.
Being able to see his belly and head would be great.
My guess is this is not a Warbler or a Vireo, but another Winter bird.
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
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I am up to 3 Winter Birds.
- Hermit Thrush
- YB Sapsucker
- RC Kinglet
Here are some I expect to show and hang around:
- Song Sparrow
- WT Sparrow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Field Sparrow (only see him in Winter)
- Pine Warbler
- House Wren
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Junco
Here are some I hope will show and hang around:
- Red-headed Woodpecker (Only see him in Winter)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
I hope the Pine Siskins give me a break and do not show this year.
I hope to see many others migrating by who don't hang around, mostly warblers.
Right now there are always maybe 10 birds jumping around out here. In Winter seldom is there less than 50. Most are finches and sparrows. Other birds see them and are attracted. Finches like Sunflower and Sparrows like white millet.
The fun then is feeding all the others who prefer different things.
I am the only guy in a tie
I am not happy.
It is a beautiful day on the porch. Where are my birds?
I have my normal birds, but where are my Winter Birds?
Hanging out here over the last days is one Ruby Kinglet, two Chipping Sparrows and - thats all.
That is not normal. I know that is not normal as I keep a note of when I see migrants.
I am loosing habitat in my area as huge areas are striped for the trees. Folks have also built homes and put in lawns. Pine Beatles took about 20 old Pines, and I have lost three 100 year old Oak trees in the last years.
My yard is an eyesore to those in the area as it appears to be over grown to the untrained eye. Actually it is the opposite, filled with plants birds and critters like. Still, it is only about 1 1/2 acre. I have 4 small garden ponds and a flowing branch to help attract critters.
Maybe my Winter Birds were killed off in the Summer back where they breed? Maybe going or coming they ran into one of Al Gore's wind mill farms.
I don't know, all I know is I am not happy.
Today the first Pine Warbler, first White-throat, and ten Chipping Sparrows showed up. It is finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
to me.
Today, I saw 8 bluebirds perched on the power line near our house. This time of year they are sociable among each other and can be seen in numbers like this. Before long, they will start to become territorial and you will only see them in pairs as they start scouting out their nesting homes for springtime.
Other birds around the feeders today:
House Finches
Gold Finch
Tufted Titmouse - many
Carolina Chickadee
Nuthatches both White-Breasted and Brown Headed
Juncos
Chipping Sparrows
Song Sparrow
Cardinals
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Good group of birds Tony. Of course the longer you have time to sit, the more you see.
As I have gotten in my walk and done some chores, now on my ass for a couple hours with some tunes.
I have most of the birds you mentioned, but have not seen a Junco this year, and have no Yellow-rumpled or Bluebirds here today or lately.
In addition to your list, have :
- White-throated Sparrows
- 2 Ruby Kinglets
- Sapsucker (one hit the window last week but after a rest in the cage, flew off)
- Hermit Thrush
- Pileated
- Fish Crow
- Canada Geese
- Towhee
- 3 Pine Warblers
The Pileated was fun as I don't get them in the yard often.
As it is warm at 71 and Sunny, have 3 turtles up.
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I think this is the first winter that I have seen blue birds both in my yard and in the park. I may have seen them in the past but just don't remember. With the warm weather the little frogs have been going crazy in the park. There are wet areas that we run by all the time and a few weeks ago the frogs made so much noise that you almost couldn't hear talking above the sounds. Last Sunday I finally saw a male Heron in the park. I see the larger female every week. We have had so much rain and warm weather that everything is very early.
I learn things everyday.
I had no idea there was a noticeable difference in the size of the male and female Great Blue Heron. I need to look up the difference. Is it a lot?
They traveled to my back yard pond in Matthews and also stole fish from your friend Dan Hyde.
I dug my pond here over 40" straight down so they could not wade.
I see one here most days, but never at my ponds.
I once took a photo of a Green Heron on the edge of the McAlpine Lake sitting on a drain pipe from the beaver pond. He is similar but has shorter legs.
Female birds is not that uncommon. male hawks seem to be smaller and have more color. The big herons are interesting as the male seems to have a bit of color around the head that the female does not have.
Speaking of the Great Blue Heron, we knew a lady in Toccoa that had a very nice Koi Pond and she had imported some very expensive Japanese Koi that were very beautiful. One day, she drove into her driveway and saw a Great Blue Herron flying up out of her pond and over a thousand dollars worth of Koi were gone. She should have made the pond deeper like you did! She added some netting but it was a little too late.
Our friend Dan Hyde took my lead and put in a garden pond. In the day he was often drinking beer in my backyardafter foot races. Dan and I traveled to hundreds together. My goal was to maybe place over 45 and his to win over all. He liked to drive and we often took K's Miata which was too small for me to drive.
One day a neighbor came to his house with a fish a bird had dropped on their lawn. It was Dan's Fish.![]()