May 30, 2011

This morning saw pair of bronzed cowbirds; earlier last week saw my first feeder-visit by house finches. Chickadee, sparrow, mourning dove and red-belly wp's all have their young with them this morning at the feeders... a family outing apparently in bird world.

April 17, 2011

Yesterday (Saturday) I saw my first yellow-bellied sapsucker hammering on the mulberry tree; I also saw that the cedar waxwings were here in force eating the ripe mulberries.
This morning I saw that the yellow-breasted chat has returned with it's mate; I believe I saw an orchard oriole through the mulberry leaves but not confident on that one.
I love my mulberry trees.

March 17, 2011

Spring has sprung, and with it the goldfinches have fled northward. Same with the yellow-rumped and pine warblers. Gone.
All that remains are the locals, of which the white-winged dove are the most vocal.
A casual strafing by a rubythroat days ago appears to be anecdotal... my newly hung feeders remain unsipped.
The screech owl family has found a new nesting site in the large water oak next door, much to the disappointment of the evicted squirrels who were using that cavity. Bird paybacks for the rodent's feeder pouncings.
Occasional Cooper's hawks race dove through the lower boughs of the back yard, and a new red-tailed juvenile wanders through overhead, hoping to find an untrained bushy-tailed tree rat vulnerable in some spacious yard.
It's St. Patricks Day, and I am thankful for not seeing snakes.

March 3, 2011

This weekend I saw a max count of 12 goldfinches at one time. So cool.
Yesterday morning I saw my first hummingbird do a fly-by, prompting me to throw together some sugar-water before heading to work. Not an accurate mixture, but it's something.
My mystery bird is most likely a pine warbler, and have a love for peanut butter smeared on tree bark.
Today was foggy and didn't see a single goldfinch, but did see a robin singing for a mate.
The dove have been doing mating rituals for a couple weeks now. Mating up in February? Our world is changing big time!
Or maybe I'm just tuning in.

Feb.11, 2011

Very cool moment today while serving Greenspoint Mission with students on school service day: saw male red-shoulder doing courtship flight, followed by female. awesome.

Jan.31, 2011

New bird this week.. looks like a yellow-throated vireo pair.
Goldfinch count up to at least 11 birds taking turns on thistle socks.
Still swarms of yellow-rumped warblers, mourning doves, white-winged doves, house sparrows, mixed with an occasional Carolina chickadee, house wren, red-bellied woodpecker, and possible Empi-flycatcher-type (willow?).
Have talked to Sam's Club about purchasing fat trimmings for feeder: they said they would call back... that was last week... may have to contact local grocer.