Just Love Spring

Male Purple Finch 04/30/15

 

Mr. & Mrs. Purple Finch 04/30/15

 

Mr. & Mrs. Northern Cardinal 04/30/15

 

04/29/15

Home Repairs and Woodpeckers

Finally got the drain under the bathroom sink fixed. I had to get new parts at the hardware store and came home with the wrong size nut to connect the what-cha-ma-call-it to the pipe sticking out of the wall. I used an old nut then plastered it with plumber's putty. Not leaking yet! I believe the tub is unclogged now as well. I found some pretty good drain cleaner that seems to have done the job.

I have a beautiful male Red-bellied Woodpecker who has been coming to the suet feeder for a week or so. I got a short video of him this afternoon. I sure hope he stays and raises a family this spring. I still wonder what happened to Bella.

More Baltimore Orioles and Bald Eagles, too!

Since my Bluebirds were a no-show this summer, my new favorites have got to be the Baltimore Orioles. I've always loved these birds. They're beautiful and their song is heavenly. But they usually never stayed for more than a few weeks in May and they'd disappear from my backyard.

This summer they arrived somewhere around the 9th of May and are still here. What's so great about that is, now they're bringing their babies to the feeders. It's fun to watch the dad feverishly try to feed 3 babies while they sit there screaming at him.

Here's a few photos from yesterday morning of the poor dad doing his best.

Dad is feeding one (it's hard to see in this shot) while another is waiting patiently (kinda) on the shepherd's hook.

Please Dad, I want some MORE!!!!!!!

This baby was perched in the limb above the feeders. He/she was very quiet and never bothered dad for food. Dad took off and this baby sat there for several minutes before figuring out dad wasn't coming back.

HEY! Where'd everybody go?

Since February I've been watching a live web cam of a Bald Eagle family. Here's the link. The pair that raised these 3 eaglets had been together since '03 and have successfully raised 19 younguns at the Botanical Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. On April 26th of this year, the mom was struck and killed by an airplane at the airport that is located near their nesting tree. It was so sad...I cried for 2 days. Here's a picture of this beautiful bird.

Lady Legacy

It was decided that the dad wouldn't be able to care for the 3 eaglets so they were moved to their present location at the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro. They will be released on Wednesday, July 27th and finally be able to fly free. Their dad still remains at the Botanical Gardens and hopefully he will find a new mate this fall and continue the tradition of raising his young at that nest.

I have learned so much from visiting that site everyday and will sure miss them once they're released but I'm really excited that they'll gain their freedom to soar like eagles.

Yesterday, I saw my first Bald Eagle. Two, actually. Becky & Joe have a pair that have been hanging around their area for a while now. Even though they didn't come very close to us, I was still thrilled to see them. These shots are the best I could get.





Becky has a short video she took of one of the Eagles flying right over their house. Even though it's only a few seconds, it was magnificent!!! I would have been screaming my fool head off! I told her I may have to just sit down there on their beach for days.

Just throw some bread and water my way once in a while.

I'll bring a pillow and blanky.

No matter how hard she tries, she will not be able to get rid of me. ☻

Baltimore Orioles

This Summer the Baltimore Orioles have stayed longer than they ever have before. Usually they're long gone by the end of May. I'm so thrilled they've stuck around. They've also raised some young and I've seen the males chasing the Crows away from their nests.

I put a video on YouTube. You can see it here.

Very Disappointed

Thanks to the House Wrens (HOWR) and the House Sparrows (HOSP) I'd pretty much given up on having any Bluebirds to enjoy this summer. But last week I moved their nesting box out to the middle of the field, away from trees, which HOWRs like (trees, that is). I was hoping there would still be time for Bluebirds to come and raise a family.

This morning I saw a Bluebird sitting on top of the nesting box. As I watched him for a bit, he went inside then came out and flew to the pole where the box used to be. He sat there for a minute or two. Once he flew away I walked out back and looked inside the nesting box. There was the beginning of a HOWR nest inside. I cleaned it out then moved the box over to the original pole hoping the Bluebird would return.

Since that stupid HOWR had started a nest, I decided to put one of the PVC nesting tubes on the pole in the field, hoping he would leave the Bluebird box alone. Shortly after I'd put the tube up, the HOWR returned and started removing the wood chips inside it. Here's a video.

I never saw the Bluebird return today.

I'm fighting a losing battle but there's no way I'm letting another HOWR make more babies in my backyard. The 7 babies in the other nestbox are about 1 week old. Here's a pic of the little devils...

Why I Have No Bluebirds This Year

These are baby House Wrens. There's 7 of them and they are about 1" in size. Their parent(s) destroyed 3 Chickadee eggs in one of my nesting tubes then tossed them out on the ground. The Chickadees moved on and the House Wrens have taken over every nesting box/tube in the yard. I believe they're the reason I have no Bluebirds this year. Once they're gone I'm taking down all the nesting boxes/tubes.

I have really grown to hate these little beasts. They're mean and nasty and they sing all day long. It's not a pretty sound, either. I had thought about destroying the eggs before they hatched but couldn't do it. I wish I had now. The last thing I want around here is more House Wrens.

The last 3 weeks most of the desired birds that were here last summer and early in May have moved to greener pastures because of the dozen or so Grackles that come all day long to the feeders. They have taken over the backyard...I hate them, too. They will eat a suet cake in one day and chase all the other birds away. I almost never see anything but Grackles and House Wrens. I've tried to shoot the Grackles with an old BB gun of Dan's but it doesn't have enough power to penetrate.

And to top it off, I have House Sparrows now. I can't remember ever seeing them here before.

Time to get a pellet gun with some power.

Sad News

I was mowing the lawn today and found 3 tiny, broken Chickadee eggs lying on the ground at the base of the pole the nesting tube was on. It must have just happened because the yolk of the eggs was still in liquid form. I'm afraid a House Wren destroyed those eggs then tossed them out of the tube. After taking the nesting tube down I opened it up only to find a beautiful but empty nest.



I cleaned the tube out and relocated it to a different spot in the yard. I guess one nice house isn't good enough for those darn House Wrens. They are very territorial and very persistent. Here's a video of a House Wren taking baby Bluebirds out of their nest.

It upset me so much that I decided to go and remove the stick nest in the bird house out back but when I looked inside I could see the female has already started getting it ready to lay her eggs. It's illegal to destroy it at this point. House Wrens will build 'dummy' nests to discourage other birds from using a nesting box, even if they don't plan on using that box themselves. But once they've chosen a particular box, the female finishes building a nest, then lays her eggs.

I'm not so happy about the Wren House any more.

Great Time for Birding

It's been fun being a bird-brain these last 8 days. A lot of birds have returned after the long, cold winter. The Hummingbirds are back and so are the Orioles.



I had a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak visiting off and on all day today.



And a beautiful Indigo bunting...



A new visitor which I've never seen before stopped by to check out the Bluebird nesting box. I didn't know what he was. My first guess was some kind of Swallow. I posted a request online for an ID and it turns out he's a Tree Swallow.



I guess they are cavity dwellers also. I hope he doesn't decide to build a nest in there. That's reserved for my Bluebirds! Maybe I should put up a sign..."Bluebirds Only...All Others Keep Out!"

The little House Wren has finished his stick nest. This morning he was sitting on top of the house singing his little heart out calling to his mate. She finally arrived to check it out. At one point he was sitting on top and she was inside. I tried to get a shot of it but they had left by the time I was ready. I don't believe I saw them again the rest of the day. Maybe she didn't like it.

Looks like he needs to remove a few sticks

The White-crowned Sparrows have made a come-back, too. I've seen at least 7 of them out there several times this past week.



Had a one-time visit from a White-throated Sparrow...



And first-time visits from some Chipping Sparrows...



This Eastern Towhee came a few days ago but he hasn't been back. Must have just been passing through.



I still get the regulars. There's never a shortage of finches...both House and Gold.



It's been at least two weeks since I've seen Bella, my Red-bellied Woodpecker. I hope she's okay. It's tough having to worry about all these critters!

Speaking of worry. Yesterday when I got home from work I saw a dead cat on the shoulder of the road in front of the neighbor's house. It looked like Gary. My heart rose in my throat. Dan and I went to check and it wasn't him thank goodness but it's still very sad. I buried him in the back yard under the pine tree...near Dipstick.

Hummers, Wrens and Other Flying Things

Yesterday I saw my first Hummingbird of the season. It's so good to see them back. I hope they stay warm enough. It got down in the low 30's overnight. The crop duster is also back. He sprays the blueberry fields just up the road. I'm always glad to see him because it means Spring is in the air...even though it doesn't feel like it right now. View video here.

The House Wren continues to build his nest. I put up a video here. Sometimes he sits on top of the bird house and just sings away.

He's Back!

One day last November I saw a Northern Flicker at the suet feeder just as I was heading out the door for work. I didn't have time to get a shot of him and I never saw another Flicker again...until today.



Sure wish I had a good camera so I could get nice pictures of these beautiful birds. The Northern Flicker is very striking and this pic doesn't do him/her justice.

I'm just amazed at all the different birds who have come to my backyard. The woodpeckers are among my favorites. Now, if only I could see a Red-headed and a Pileated I'd be thrilled.

Checking Out the New Digs

A little House Wren stopped by today to take a look at the new bird house I put up. Looks like he/she may stick around.

Hmmmm. This looks promising

Nice View from the front

Has plenty of room for the kids

Construction begins

Earlier this morning I saw what I thought was an Eagle soaring in the sky. Later this afternoon I saw it again but there was another bird, the same size, soaring along with it. I watched them for a couple minutes and I now believe they were Turkey Vultures looking for a dead carcass to feast on. My feeble attempt at capturing them in a photo resulted in a nice picture of the cloudless, blue sky. Thank God for sunshine.

Yesterday there were Chickadees coming and going from one of the nesting tubes I made. Here's a link to a short video. I also saw my first Brown Creeper. I tried to get a shot of him but he was too fast for me. I really need photography lessons.

A Pic of Bella

I Wonder if the Ground is Frozen Solid

Tomorrow I think I'll see if I can erect a pole to put at least one of the Chickadee nextboxes on. I don't like where either one is. I can't see them from the kitchen window and that's the best place to shoot a video so I don't bother the little critters too much. It looks like some birds have been removing the wood chips. I wouldn't know which birds, since I can't see the darn things!

I also need to fix my mailbox. It's leaning a bit (actually, a lot) to the left. The snow banks have been keeping it upright all winter but they're just about gone now.

I really can't wait til Spring. I'm getting a bit tired of the same old birds and hope to see some new 'lifers' during migration. 'Cheesehead' hasn't been around since I shot that video of him sitting on the Bluebird house. I miss the Bluebirds, the Orioles and the Hummers, too.

Home Sweet Home

I put up the second PVC Chickadee nestbox this afternoon and within 10 minutes, two little Chickadees were checking it out. I grabbed my camera and went back out to try to capture them at the box but they didn't like me being so close.

Looking closer at the lilac bushes in this image I can see buds.Spring is on it's way!

The first PVC nestbox I put up is way out back, about 300' feet from the house. I packed both of them full with wood chips so the Chickadees can excavate their own holes. I walked out there to check on it today and I could see that some of the wood chips have been removed. I haven't been able to see any birds at that box but it's so far away that it's hard to see.

There's also window screening inside each box so the parents can climb up to the hole to get out and the babies can climb up to look out until they're ready to leave the nest.



As the birds remove the wood chips they usually carry them away from the nest to drop them so they won't call attention to predators. I hope both these boxes will be used this Spring. It'll be fun watching them. I'll try to get some videos.

Bluebird Wannabe

My Red-shouldered Hawk, who I've named 'Cheesehead' stopped by this afternoon to check out the Bluebird Nestbox. Ya think he'll fit?

I just love this guy!

Last week I had put up the first PVC Chickadee nestbox I made. To see if any birds were showing interest in it I decided to take a video. While doing that, 'Cheesehead' showed up in the backyard. I got lucky and caught him on video.

Here's a link to the video: Bluebird Wannabe

I Can Has Mac & Cheez

I've always put out table scraps for the Crows. This morning I tossed out some leftover Kraft Mac & Cheese in a path I'd shoveled out back, then went inside to start getting ready for work. A few minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw some activity near the spot where I'd put the goodies. I looked out to see two Crows bouncing around like Tigger. I wasn't sure what was going on but they didn't seem to be too happy.

All of a sudden, peeking up from behind the 'wall of snow', I saw this:



My first thought was...that's a BIG crow! Then my eyes adjusted and I realized it wasn't a crow at all. I couldn't get a full-body shot from the bathroom window so I went out to the garage and snapped this pic.

Red-shouldered Hawk

After the hawk finished his snack he flew up into a nearby tree and sat there for a minute or so. The crows were in the same tree, hollering at him for eating their food.



This is the closest encounter I've had with a hawk. Pretty exciting! Why does this kind of stuff have to happen when I gotta go to work? I either have to stop looking at the birds in the morning...or quit my job!

More Birds

This little guy doesn't care how close I get to him.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Nor does this guy.

White-breasted Nuthatch

I wish the hawks would be as fearless. Can't get close enough to one to get a nice shot because as soon as they see me, they take off. I watched a Red-shouldered Hawk today who was busy chasing something on the ground. I couldn't see what it was after and I don't know if he caught it or not. He disappeared behind the neighbor's shed for a while so he may have been eating then.

He eventually landed in a tree and sat there for quite a while. Then, just 10 feet away from him, a little squirrel was scampering up and down the trunk of another tree. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. That squirrel must have a death wish. But the hawk never attacked...perhaps he had already eaten.

Nature is Wonderful!

It's a good thing I don't have a dish washer because if I did, I wouldn't get to see a lot of the birds and critters I've seen in my backyard lately. Once again, while washing dishes, a commotion outside the window caught my eye. A hawk was chasing a mourning dove and in the process, he scared off all the other birds from the feeders.

Sharp-shinned Hawk
He didn't catch the dove but landed in the pine tree and sat there for a bit. In the meantime, these two were frozen in place, trying their best not to be noticed by the hawk.

Female Hairy (lt) Female Downy (rt)

E.S.P. (Especially Silly Person)

Ever had one of those moments when you just know something is going to happen and then it does? I have. Quite often, actually.

Well, this morning I was standing by the kitchen window washing some dishes at the sink. As I glanced out the window at all the little birds, I began thinking about Hawks and how much I'd like to see one so I could get a good picture of it. The thought popped into my head that I would see one today.

Guess what?

Mature Red-shouldered Hawk

(Still not the best picture...but it's getting better.)

I put left-overs out for the crows. This Hawk took off after one of the crows and chased it into the trees. A few seconds later it came back out to the edge of the tree line and sat for a while. I watched it for a few minutes through the binoculars and debated whether or not to go get my camera. I was afraid it would be gone when I returned.

What a beauty!

He came back an hour later. Here's a view from the back!

I Never Get Tired of 'Hairy'