Backyard beech tree birds
Tag Archives: birds
Because you can’t have too many birds
A week ago I had the chance to go to Kensington, one of my favorite places in the world. It was a beautiful, sunny day.
The birds weren’t crazy hungry and we weren’t overrun by little ones, but we had our fair share of visitors demanding a treat.
My sister and I had been there before, a few years ago and she was used to having birds fly down to her hand, but it was still magical. It always is.
Her friend had never been there before so this was a new experience. He figured out that he could toss a peanut up in the air and the red bellied woodpeckers and the blue jays would both fly out from the trees and catch that peanut in the air.
They were successful grabbing the nut about 99% of the time.
He also got an up close and personal viewing of several sandhill cranes. We didn’t feed them, but they were hopeful and followed us around on the trail.
The heron rookery was full of expectant parents. Though I’m sure there are eggs or maybe even youngsters up in those big nests we couldn’t see any yet.
Ms. Swan built her nest very near the boardwalk this year. I’m sure every photographer has a great image of mom waiting patiently on her nest. By this week there could be babies and the usual paparazzi shooting baby pictures.
I doubt I’ll get out there again soon, but I sure enjoyed my spring walk with family through such a beautiful place. I hope you enjoyed these images too.
The orioles are back!
Historically the orioles (bright orange migrating birds) come back to my feeder from their winters in South America about (and almost always ON) May 5th.
This year people were reporting them returning to their yards in lower Michigan at the end of April. So I put my oriole feeder out then. And then I waited. Every day I thought “this will be the day.”
And suddenly it was. My first sighting was May 1st and I was very excited. He was extra hungry and between him and the house finches I started going through a lot of jelly. Of course I didn’t mind at all.
Today I figured out there are actually two males. And possibly two females now. Though today I saw a picture online by a bird photographer who does a lot of educating with her images. She said her photograph was probably a young male, perhaps last years youngster. She said they look like females but have more black on them, like a male.
So now I’m considering that the two ‘females’ I’ve had might just be last year baby boys. That would make sense, as the males always arrive first.
Either way the four of them have been at the feeder all day, every day since at least the 5th. AND I also get hummingbirds the next day (the 6th) of May, and a rose breasted gross beak!
The hummers and the gross beak arrived a day late, but I was just as happy to see them.
I don’t have an image of the male hummingbird yet, he’s very skittish. But the gross beak has always been something of a photo hog. He’s not skittish at all, as long as you move slowly. And your dog doesn’t bark.
The same day that the gross beak and the hummer arrived I saw a catbird, also a migrating bird that isn’t here in the winter.
And across the street in the pond was an egret. Though my pictures of that bird are just bad. I always have trouble with the bright white of egrets. I know I’ll have more opportunities so I’ll wait until I get a better image before I share.
BUT, I have to say that the 5th and 6th were very big bird days in and around my yard!
All the photos here were taken through a window, working through reflections and grime. But I didn’t care, I was just thrilled to see them all.
Experimenting with flight
No, not my flight, though when I was young I did think I’d like to fly a plane, and when I was even younger I used to dream that I could fly like a bird.
No, this morning I put some peanuts in the flat feeder, and that quickly brought in my merry band of noisy bluejays. I swear they sit up in the trees and wait for me to fill the feeders. They always arrive immediately and with great fanfare.
And while I was standing at the window, watching them come and go in the morning light, I realized I could try to capture their flight. They were much too busy hogging the peanuts to notice me.
You need a very short shutter speed to stop those wings in mid-flight, at least 1/2000 per second. If there is sunlight that’s easier to accomplish.
I took 84 images before the sun was hidden by the clouds of the latest incoming storm front. Out of that barely a handful are passable. But I learned a lot and some day I will try again.
I’m sharing them with you now, because bluejays, no matter the fact they are obnoxious, are truly beautiful.
Even if they are little pigs.
Visitor
I haven’t seen one of these in my yard in years. But yesterday afternoon she arrived.
And she wasn’t here very long, just checking out the stumps of trees we had to cut down.
And then she was gone.
It’s just pure luck I happened to look outside while she was here. And that my camera was next to me when I did.
Proof
Backyard proof that spring is coming, and even if it’s still really cold out. Even when there is snow threatening to fall. Again. Absolute proof rests with my birds.
And the goldfinches are turning yellow.
Female blackbirds, hummingbirds and orioles will be here soon. Guaranteed.
And the rest of the birds
Well, I left you on the trails in the woods of Kensington quite a long time ago. You’ve likely forgotten I left you stranded there, what with the red winged interruption and then of course Penny’s Wordless Wednesday.
There’s a lot going on here in Penny’s house and I’ve been too busy to finish up my walk with you and my birds, so let me just say the last few birds I met along the trail were all turkeys.
Literally.
But here are a few of my favorite bird pictures from that walk. It all feels so long ago, but I hope they conjure up a beautiful day in the woods for all of you.
They do for me.
That’s it for me for awhile. When things settle down some I’m sure I’ll be back. Meanwhile, spend some time outside, finding your own special places and post. I just might find time to stop in for a pick-me-up!
Announcement
We interrupt our tour of magical Kensington to announce that spring has officially arrived here in Southeastern Michigan. OK, it’s 30 degrees out with a stiff wind and snow lightly falling.
But it’s spring. Trust me on this.
Wait. That’s the wrong image. One moment please…
…try now…
What? You don’t see anything? How about now?
Well yes, that IS a goldfinch who MIGHT have a yellow feather showing, but no, what about the big black blob? What do you see?
Maybe this is better?
Yes! It is indeed our very first red-winged blackbird scout of the season! Give that bird a gold medal, he’s arrived early and the weather is clearly not in his favor. In fact we had a hail storm only two days ago. I hope he managed to avoid it.
I saw him for the first time on Thursday (day before yesterday), but I was on the phone and not close to my camera. I got a very poor image of him with the phone. But I shared it extensively with my bird friends here. Almost all of them had seen one in their yards that day too!
Yesterday (Friday) he stopped by again. The images in this post are from Friday’s visit.
I had filled all six feeders for him in the hopes he’d eat something. It was a very windy day and he was very hesitant. He slowly worked his way out from the safety of the middle of the beech tree, watching all the other birds eating. Clearly he was interested.
And then he made his move.
I hope he’s here to stay. I haven’t even heard the distinctive red-winged blackbird call yet. But I hope he starts calling in all of his friends so we know he is more than a fluke!
And I’m glad we were able to give him some food and water if he’s headed further north. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see if he stops by again.
Happy Spring everybody!
Edit: He’s here right now, eating at the flat feeder! So maybe he’s really going to stick around!
It’s been a long time, Kensington
Last week I jumped at the chance to visit Kensington on one of our only blue sky days. It had been a long time, and I was hoping the birds were hungry even though I got out there a little later in the day than I like. But, instead of me telling you about it, let me just show you. You know it’s all about the birds….right?
Will I see any more birds on the rest of my walk. Well…of course…but they were birds of a different feather. They’ll show up in this blog soon I’m sure. They’re kind of pushy.
Cold birds
It’s been cold here. Really cold. Mornings are often close to 0F if not below. (-17C)
My backyard birds need extra food to survive, and they’re eating about 40 pounds of oiler seeds a week. Not to mention the big bag of peanuts in the shell, and the 10 pounds of shelled peanuts and the 20 pound of niger seed.
I don’t think they travel far from my yard. When I’m out there filling the 6 feeders and one suet cage they chirp and flutter in nearby shrubs and trees. Maybe they’re discussing the menu. Probably more likely they’re wondering why I’m so slow.
Before I’m even back in the house they’re already swooping down to see what fresh treats I’ve left them. Sometimes I stand against the house, under the eves, and wait to see who shows up. I’ sure they know I’m there, but they can’t wait to grab a snack. If it’s not to windy and cold I’ll stand there awhile, enjoying the sound of their wings and their gentle chirping to each other.
During the winter months, when they’re so hungry and not busy raising a family, they seem to all get along. I have 5 pair of cardinals that will eat side by side on the railing where I spread seed in the worst weather, so that everyone can eat at the same time and no one has to wait.
In the spring and summer the cardinals will chase each other out of what they seem to feel is their own territory. You won’t find them eating together when they’re setting up households and struggling under new parent responsibilities.
The titmouse is the bravest of the birds. They’re usually the first to arrive when the feeders are newly filled. They’ll even come hop around the shrub nearest me as I pour seed on the railing. They are not afraid and they pick the biggest peanuts in shells every time. The peanuts are almost as big as their heads. They are very proud to get the prize seed before the big bluejays show up.
The chickadees are right behind the titmice, making a lot of noise to announce their arrival. They like a particular feeder and often flit back and forth between the shelter of the shrubs and the safe, caged, feeder.
And I have a band of 7 bluejays that send a scout first who will announce when it’s safe. Then the rest of them swoop in, scaring, for a moment, the little birds. But soon they and the littles are all eating together.
But if, suddenly, all the birds disappear it’s important to look around. Because sometimes the reason they’ve all hidden is this guy.
I’ve seen him attack a huge thorny barberry bush where the little birds like to hide, trying to get lunch. So far I haven’t seen him suceed at that. The little birds fly out and he’s tangled up in the thorns.
On the day I shot his image last week, it was close to zero out. He was, at first, standing on one foot and keeping the other warm up under his feathers. But he eventually put two feet firmly on the feeder hook and surveyed the yard for quite awhile before he flew off into the woods to look for an easier meal.
So there you go, some of my cold birds, most puffed up to conserve heat. This week it might get up into the 40s (4 C)…for one day anyway. I expect the birds will be sunbathing in relief.
