I also thought he was a one legged bird at first. But he's just fine.

Good. I checked some of my photos and orioles do seem to prefer a very wide stance. This picture is from May, 2012:

Claire

edit note: It looks anatomically very strange, as if one leg is coming out of the tail and the other from the throat.

This post was edited by claire on Wed, May 14, 14 at 15:14

So many things appear to be strange, lol. This duo below is from a litter of kits - maybe 6 - from the squirrel with the bad leg this past winter. Her leg is fine, but it appears she didn't run fast enough. Sigh...more squirrels in the aging maple.
Jane

Last posting today - promise. This blue jay couple is very devoted.
She got a good husband.
Jane

A two-headed squirrel and a sweet blue jay pair. Nice pics.

Claire

Nice photos of such a variety of birds. I spotted a scarlet tanager this morning as I headed to work, though it was on the neighbor's property, not mine. Our excitement has been the chipping sparrows mating in the dogwood right outside the kitchen window, and 3 bears, a mama and two cubs, early this morning. My BIL sent this photo, taken out the back window of DH's shop, less than a couple hundred feet from some of the garden beds. And then when I went out to dump the kitchen compost and found the wire fencing that encloses it smooshed, I knew that they had visited the house too. They left a few tufts of black fur on the compost fence.

THREE bears? Man, some people get all the luck. It must be a bit unsettling though, those things are BIG! Even though they say black bears aren't very aggressive, still, a mama with two cubs is probably rather protective of them.

Woodchucks are more comfortable to live with.

Claire

Whoa. Boy, oh boy, they'd make me very attentive while gardening. I only came face to face with a coyote in my yard one morning, and it definitely made a lifelong impression. But in the Catskills one summer, a cub standing on two feet, so he/she was about 4' tall, and about 10' away from me, left me speechless and slow moving in retreat. Great for pictures, nhbabs, otherwise, not so much. I agree with Claire, woodchucks are easier.
Jane

As long as the bears remain as unwilling to stick around when they know we are present, I am fine with them, though I make a point of making noise when I walk in the woods. The only coyotes I see are on full moon-lit nights, since they are even less happy to be around when we are than the bears. I think that we live in an area with enough land that doesn't have houses that much of our wild life is still quite cautious around people. You are welcome to your woodchucks . . .

I know many people don't like Common Grackles, but I do. So when I saw this chap filling his lungs yesterday, I had to get him. He did this twice then belted out a squawky song.

He started off normal size

I agree, Jane, grackles are fine birds. They're smart, they're beautiful in the bright sun, and they eat caterpillars (winter moth caterpillars, etc.). I don't complain about their voice because they sound a bit like me singing.

You captured the spirit well. It looks like he was showing off for the grackle (female?) in the second pic.

As for caterpillars, it was very windy this afternoon and some of the new little oak leaves were dropping on the deck. I was pleased that none of them seemed to have caterpillar holes in them when I noticed this looper on one bunch (near the bottom center). It may well be a winter moth larva although it hadn't done any damage yet that I could see.

A few weeks ago the Red-winged Blackbirds were gathered in the oaks singing so I figured they were eating caterpillars too.

Nice birds!

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Mon, May 19, 14 at 15:44

nhbabs: There was an article today in the NY Times online about Black-throated Blue Warblers. You may need a subscription to see this.

I wonder if he was migrating through your area or breeds there.

Claire

I was looking for something else and ran into this thread on Tree Frogs in the hot tub.

Something to worry about during Spring Peeper season? For those New Englanders who use hot tubs in early spring....

Claire

Male bluebird feeding babies in the nest box. They are dedicated parents and work in tandem. We have been fortunate to have them almost year round for several years. While they are very tolerant of people being around them, they have never allowed us to see the young leave the nest. This was no exception since they fledged a few hours after these pics were taken.

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I have a wreath on my front door that is home to a small birds nest with 6 tiny blue eggs. The parents visit frequently. I'm not sure what kind of birds, sparrows maybe. I'm in CT. Does anyone know when the eggs will hatch and how long before the family vacates. I don't want to do anything to interupt the life cycle, but it's getting a little old looking at a pinecone wreath in May. Thanks for your help.

homegrowninthe603: Lovely pictures of the male bluebird feeding the babies with pink flowers surrounding them. That's very sensible of the bluebirds to hide the fledging process from possibly hungry eyes.

gayled: You'd probably get more knowledgeable replies if you posted on the Bird Watching Forum. We're enthusiastic here, but we're short on expert advice.

That said, could it be a House Finch nest?

The Cornell All About Birds site says:

"They also nest in or on buildings, using sites like vents, ledges, street lamps, ivy, and hanging planters."

"Incubation Period
13-14 days
Nestling Period
12-19 days
Egg Description
Pale blue to white, speckled with fine black and pale purple."

This is probably a reasonable estimate for the length of time a small bird takes to complete a brood in a pinecone wreath.

Do they let you open and close the front door without protest, or are you obligingly using another door?

Claire

I've been away a lot lately but now traveling should be over. It looks like we have tree swallows going in one of the new bluebird houses. My husband claims to have seen an indigo bunting so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. Rusty capped sparrow was gathering little bits of dried grass. Saw a hummingbird inside the local greenhouse.

I've been watching the insects taking advantage of the spring flowers or flowers-to-be.

This bud on a Peony 'Early Dawn' has the customary ant adorning it.

I went searching for a reason and found this site, Ants, Bees and Ladybugs - Old Legends Die Hard, that says

"Everyone believes some facts that aren't true. We think we know something to be true only to discover that it is an urban legend, a folk tale, just a rumor or worst of all, a hoax.

This is certainly true for insects. A great deal of folklore about insects passes for fact but is actually misinformation. While most of this misinformation is harmless, it is still a good idea to know the truth.

For example, do you subscribe to the popular notion that ants must be present for peony blossoms to open? It seems logical enough, but there is no truth, whatsoever, to the long-standing, widespread and oft-repeated folk tale that ants are essential for the normal opening of peony flower buds.

It is true that there is a special relationship between ants and peony buds. However, the relationship is the reverse of what the folk tale claims. The peonies don't need the ants, but the ants do take advantage of the peonies!

Peony buds have very small extrafloral nectaries (special glands that produce nectar) along the outside edges of the scales that cover the developing buds. Ants devour this mixture of sugar, water and amino acids in what may resemble a feeding frenzy. In exchange for the free nectar, the ants drive off pests that might nibble on the buds. But rest assured that the peony flowers would open normally and on time even without ants walking across the surface of the bud."

It makes ants seem a little like hummingbirds sipping nectar, although without the hum (I'm not willing to put my ear that close to an ant to listen for a humming sound).

Claire

defrost49: Isn't it lovely to come home from traveling and find new birds and critters in your yard (not to mention the plants suddenly growing)? It's a nice way to reconnect with your home.

Claire

Glad you posted the info about ants and peonies, Claire. I had not heard that particular wrong factoid, but always figured that there was a sweet attraction to benefit the ants: Now I know.

My bird feeder is a sweet attraction to somebody big. Twice, including this morning, I have awoken to an empty feeder after having filled it the previous suppertime. A 40lb bag bought 10 days ago was gone in 8 days - that's one feeder only. Of course, this time of the year there is heavy feeding. But cleaned out overnight suggests a deer. To my knowledge, the bear in the local paper has not reached our side of town. I think it's time for a trail cam.

homegrown - nice blue birds!
Jane

Not my garden. I was on a garden tour today and took this shot of a Black Swallowtail on a Viburnam. I thought you might like it.

Steve

Jane: Trail cam sounds good, even if it just captures Ivy hamming it up for the photo op.

Steve: Lovely picture of an elegant butterfly.

Claire

Well, Ivy (cat) brought a chipmunk on to the porch yesterday because it's easier to play on carpet and stay dry. Yes, the healthy, unhurt chipmunk was escorted back to his outside domain and from this picture I just took today, he is still on the fly with full cheeks and scaring every bird around.

The mechanic removed a mouse house from the car's 'cabin air filter' this morning, so I think Ivy should spend a little time in the garage. No need for her to 'ham' it up; she'd better get to work.
Jane

Love the pic, Jane, of the gymnast jay caught in the middle of a technically demanding maneuver - with the chippie giggling below.

I can sympathize with the mouse house in your air filter. I once had to have my car towed to Hyannis to repair mouse damage to the wiring. Ivy needs to be reminded of her obligations.

Claire

Claire - a turkey hen showed up here an hour ago all alone. No brood, no poults. Kind of strange? Maybe her clutch didn't hatch? First year bachlorette? Any ideas? She wandered back the way she came after picking through the corn on the ground.
Jane

I had two turkey hens back here today, also without poults. It could be that the eggs didn't hatch but I suspect that predators got the eggs or maybe the young before they could fly. Last year the hens came back in a group and were really skittish as if they were afraid of something. I only saw one poult last year and only one time.

I don't know where the toms go but according to Cornell's All About Birds

"Male Wild Turkeys provide no parental care. Newly hatched chicks follow the female, who feeds them for a few days until they learn to find food on their own. As the chicks grow, they band into groups composed of several hens and their broods"

so I don't know if the toms give any protection at all.

I found a note in Cornell's Birds of North America Online (subscription) concerning:

"Replacement Clutches

Renesting after loss of eggs normal in adults, significantly less in immature hens (Glidden 1977; Lockwood and Sutcliffe 1985; Vander Haegen 1987)

It could be that your hen and my two are immatures so if they lost one clutch they won't try again this year. The adult hens are probably still out there. I do hope some of them succeed in raising a brood.

Claire

The bumble bees have been enjoying the 'Olga Mezitt' rhododendron and the 'Jet Fire' quince this week.

Nice picture, nhbabs! Bumble bees look good in pink. I can almost hear the buzz-buzz.

Claire

I've been seeing a pair of goldfinches at one of the feeders early in the morning lately, so had my coffee out back with the camera, and saw the male.

He was very suspicious:

While I was out there I saw this very dark squirrel. Just after this shot, it started chewing on my new fence.

I've never seen a squirrel with that coloration, nekobus. Dark grey with a red-brown tail!

I searched and found a website talking about Melanistic Gray Squirrels. They show a picture of a squirrel something like yours (scroll down a few pics).

"The scientific term for unusually dark coloration is melanism. The same term is used to describe black panthers, which are actually melanistic leopards or jaguars. Melanism can be found in a variety of species, including whitetail deer, wolves, rattlesnakes, and even some butterflies. Even Maryland's state reptile, the diamondback terrapin, has a melanistic phase!

In the U.S., it is believed that melanism in gray squirrels is caused by a recessive gene. This means that for a squirrel to be black in color, it must have two copies of the melanism gene (one from each parent). However, studies on British black gray squirrels (originating from zoo escapees) show that their form of melanism is incompletely dominant, with one melanism gene causing squirrels to appear brown-black and two copies of the gene causing squirrels to appear jet-black. It is possible that there are two genetically distinct forms of melanism in the gray squirrel, one that is recessive and one that is incompletely dominant. Ocassionally, black squirrels are sighted that have brown or red tails.

Nice pic of the goldfinch. I'm not seeing many goldfinches here now - just the occasional visitor to the feeder. I think they may like the food in the wild better than what I supply.

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Sat, May 24, 14 at 9:51

There is one squirrel here with a distinctly light reddish tail, but his body is the usual gray. Interesting article on melanism, thank you.

It would be too much to ask to get Mr. and Mrs. RB Grosbeak in the same photo, I suppose. Just glad they're here.
Mrs. favours suet and the clematis pole

Mr. goes straight for the buffet

Grosbeaks really have presence. Here we are everybody - let the party begin!

I think I've seen my grosbeak for this year (sigh).

Claire

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard dropped by the pond again. I've continued see the wood ducks, but have not see the hooded mergansers again.

Saw the Green Heron down by the pond.

He saw me, and flew up to a tree.

Lovely reflections in the water with the ripples caused by the mallards cruising by.

And it always looks disconcerting to see a heron in a tree.

Your pond is a joy year-round.

Claire

Woke up this morning to see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard napping in the backyard. They eventually woke up.

Jeremiah came out of hibernation a while ago. He finally posed for me.

The mallards look very happy on your lawn, pixie_lou. Yet another reason to delay mowing the grass (that would be my excuse anyway). Are they lying on the violet section? I wonder if ducks eat violets.

And Jeremiah is singing to greet the morning (or whatever frogs sing about).

I have a woodchuck visiting that seems to have had a close encounter with something with teeth and claws.

I first saw it on May 21 eating birdseed. It had two big holes in the fur on its sides and a possible smaller hole in the center of the back.

I saw it again on May 25 and the fur seems to be growing in on the two side holes.

It finally turned around and it looks fine from the front.

I'm not sure how these wounds happened, whether they're claw or tooth marks. Or even a car attack?

At least the woodchuck escaped to continue its search for garden phlox to eat.

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Sat, May 31, 14 at 14:15

Anyone know what this is or where I can find out? I hope it's beneficial.

Steve

I have no idea what it is but it's a beautiful thing. If no one here knows, you can post the photo on BugGuide.Net. You have to register but it's easy and experts respond.

Claire

Then again, maybe it's an Eight-Spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata).

According to Wikipedia, the larvae feed on Virginia Creeper. Depending on how you feel about that, it doesn't sound like much of a pest.

Google always amazes me - I googled 'black and white moth with red legs' and found a lead.
Claire

Steve - it may be an Eight-spotted Forester. The article (link below) says that globally, they are 'demonstrably secure'. Now that's worrisome for sure. It says the caterpillars can be a pest, but you have a good shot of an interesting day flyer.

Claire - would you say there is about a six inch spread between the marks on the gopher's tush with a small mark in between? Other than a large coyote with braces, what would make such marks? May be that he was caught in between two stakes of fencing? We'll never know. However, I can attest to the fact that even after little hips have been caught in a Siamese feline's fangs, the ability to fill this chipmunk's cheeks the measured width of his butt is a remarkable testament to healing the natural way. That, and a bit of good luck and timing. The mark on the right hip is from Ivy;there is a matching fang mark on the left. He runs just fine.
Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Eight-spotted Forester

That's a good description of the wounds on the woodchuck, Jane. Maybe I should check the Phlox Protection Zone fence for a disturbance/attempted forced entry.

I'm a little leery of doing that because I think a cardinal may have a nest in the rose there. Every time I get too close to the inside a bird bursts out - the rose is very dense so I don't see anything but I hear this dramatic flapping of wings.

I can't avoid the area because that's on my daily route to get to the back of the house. Luckily, the cardinals know me as She-Who-Puts-Out-Good-Food, so I guess it's just a warning or a diversion.

Claire

Thanks Jane and Claire. I'm convinced it is an eight spotted forester. Plenty of pollen about here for it to feed on and there is wild grape and Virginia creeper in the woods nearby for the larvae. Even if I were growing Virginia Creeper in the garden I wouldn't worry. Lepidoptera have to eat too. I'm planting Milkweed soon!

Steve

Fledgling landings are always fun...as a viewer.

Oh, Jane, that is funny, but I'll bet the fledgling didn't think so. Thinking about it, how do you plan the landing? Headfirst and you smash your face. Sideways and you risk sliding off if you can't grab something with your claws. Not to mention, when do you close the wings so they don't get in the way, but still allow you to glide in.

Flying isn't easy. And the paparazzi are watching with their cameras.

Claire

This post was edited by claire on Wed, May 28, 14 at 17:25

Pixie Lou, I love those pond shots. You get such a range of critters visiting, and the green heron is especially nice.

It has finally warmed up enough that Jane's least favorite critters are emerging in my garden, the snakes. I found a small (8") red-bellied snake that ended up in some grass clippings I moved to the compost after we hayed the lawn between rain showers. I was surprised to find him in the bottom of the garden cart, and tipped him out before I thought to photograph him. My reading tells me that they don't get much bigger than a big night crawler, so he was full grown.

I was cleaning out the bed around the back patio where I so often see garter snakes, and had the company of this guy for a bit until he decided that I was interfering with his basking in the sun and left.

nhbabs: I've never seen a red-bellied snake; maybe it's too dry around here for them. The images I googled look attractive - could you see the red underside?

We do have garter snakes but I haven't seen any yet this year. I don't see them often anyway, usually just disappearing around a corner or once down the granite steps. I really enjoyed seeing the snake rippling down the steps.

I do remember once, years ago, finding a bright green snake in the cellar of the old house. It was lying on the gray concrete floor and desperately trying to look invisible (it's not easy being green). I think I shooed it into a box and brought it outside.

I guess it was a Smooth Green Snake according to the Snakes of Massachusetts website.

Claire

Bypassing all this slithering talk. When you guys get back to fur and feathers, I'll be back. yuck

New Hampshire photos are gorgeous (not the slinky one above), nhbabs. You have a pond too? ey yi yi. Even a semi-permanent pond is still a pond. Beautiful property, despite some of its inhabitants.
Jane

I know it's been a while since you post the photos, but I still can't get over those bit marks on the ground hogs back. How odd.

Henry was playing King of the Mountain, or is that King of the Dome Climber, this evening. (My apologies for the fuzzy phone picture, but His Majesty does not hang around and pose for the commoners).

pixie_lou: Henry is looking very majestic there, and probably is very pleased with himself.

Maybe he's imagining himself as Buckminster Fuller with a furry tail.

Claire

This thread's getting long so I just posted a new one:

Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2014 #6

Claire