More yard siskins!
Whoa whoa wait a minute, don't quit reading yet. I KNOW you don't care about my yard siskins but hang on a second. Last week they were eating so much I was planning to pull my feeders till they left, but then Monday morning I realized I was feeding more than siskins...
Who done it?
My local Merlin! I missed the Merlin flying in but I got to see it on the ground here and then tear off with a siskin in its talons.
Conclusion: It is worth feeding the siskins after all.
Anyway. Wednesday morning I decided to walk to Broughton Beach in hopes of picking up some motorless birds for the year. There's a lot of good potential for semi-rarities this time of year on the river: little loons, odd cormorants, scoters, grebes, etc. And I saw none of them!
Dunlin is a nice bird for Broughton Beach, but one I had managed to see in the spring already.
Mew Gulls are back, making Texans jealous.
The Horned Lark flock is going strong and on this visit I noticed one with leg bands for the first time this year. This is not that bird:
While trying to creep closer to the larks without flushing them to get a photo of the banded bird I heard something behind me on the river. I turned around and boom! Tundra Swans!
Tundra Swans are not rare birds but they are far more likely on the west side, or even Smith & Bybee Lakes. A new Broughton Beach bird for me! And a motorless life bird! And motorless year bird#132 #133! Lists lists lists!
On the walk home pipits were posing on the rocks along the bike path.
At some point I realized that the Western Meadowlarks I had seen earlier were also motorless year birds (#131 #132), making this long walk really worthwhile.
Back on the home front I have become a crazy hummingbird lady. I even put up a second feeder to try to reduce fighting. One day I had three on a feeder at once, a new record, with two more nearby. I find this delightful.
This dude is in charge.
Ok, I will shut up about yard birds now. But oh wait, I have a yard mammal to share...
On Halloween morning I let the dogs outside and when they did not return I went to investigate. Jake was sniffing and jumping back from this possum which I thought was dead till I noticed it was breathing. Brought the dogs inside and an hour later when I checked it was gone. I had no idea just how well they played dead!
That's all I got. Good times!
Whoa whoa wait a minute, don't quit reading yet. I KNOW you don't care about my yard siskins but hang on a second. Last week they were eating so much I was planning to pull my feeders till they left, but then Monday morning I realized I was feeding more than siskins...
Who done it?
My local Merlin! I missed the Merlin flying in but I got to see it on the ground here and then tear off with a siskin in its talons.
Conclusion: It is worth feeding the siskins after all.
Anyway. Wednesday morning I decided to walk to Broughton Beach in hopes of picking up some motorless birds for the year. There's a lot of good potential for semi-rarities this time of year on the river: little loons, odd cormorants, scoters, grebes, etc. And I saw none of them!
Dunlin is a nice bird for Broughton Beach, but one I had managed to see in the spring already.
Mew Gulls are back, making Texans jealous.
The Horned Lark flock is going strong and on this visit I noticed one with leg bands for the first time this year. This is not that bird:
While trying to creep closer to the larks without flushing them to get a photo of the banded bird I heard something behind me on the river. I turned around and boom! Tundra Swans!
Tundra Swans are not rare birds but they are far more likely on the west side, or even Smith & Bybee Lakes. A new Broughton Beach bird for me! And a motorless life bird! And motorless year bird
On the walk home pipits were posing on the rocks along the bike path.
At some point I realized that the Western Meadowlarks I had seen earlier were also motorless year birds (
Back on the home front I have become a crazy hummingbird lady. I even put up a second feeder to try to reduce fighting. One day I had three on a feeder at once, a new record, with two more nearby. I find this delightful.
This dude is in charge.
Ok, I will shut up about yard birds now. But oh wait, I have a yard mammal to share...
On Halloween morning I let the dogs outside and when they did not return I went to investigate. Jake was sniffing and jumping back from this possum which I thought was dead till I noticed it was breathing. Brought the dogs inside and an hour later when I checked it was gone. I had no idea just how well they played dead!
That's all I got. Good times!
That possum looks DEAD for sure--glad he wasn't...NICE yard birds too and wow the Merlin!! Did you hear the wing beat on those swans? Im still scratching my head on a few birds I photo'd if you get bored take a look..I sent a share via flickr.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was not excited about the idea of a dead possum in the yard..
DeleteI really like that Horned Lark shot. Get that local shit.
ReplyDeleteThanks. Will do.
DeleteCrazy Hummingbird Lady, do you have them named yet? Get a Jewel Box. I *love* mine!
ReplyDeleteWell, there's a super yellowy golden female that I was calling something but I can't remember what now. Maybe I'll try a jewel box soon, these turds can barely share the two.
DeleteYeah, never get down about the hoards of common stuff gobbling up the food. As you found out, it's never a waste as it brings in something even better. I hated the throngs of Redpolls that put me in the poor house two years ago (now I miss them), but I got a couple Northern Shrike visits out of the deal.
ReplyDeleteDamn, I can't even imagine throngs of redpolls having never seen a single one... And shrike visits? Badass.
DeleteYep. Fuck you and your Mew Gull. Fuck Katy Perry too. Fuck the whole lot of you.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure when you visit my blog, Nate. Thanks for the kind words. Cheers!
Delete