Happy to hear that your Hummers returned! We too have Hummers, Orioles and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, but have not seen the Scarlet Tanagers or the Indigo Buntings. Like you we are still waiting for them, confident they will surprise you and us any day now.

Looks like a Cooper's hawk. You can just see the wtite tip of it's long tail, below the fence rail- Jeff

Caroline- Maybe I should switch some of my feeders from a 'nesting' mix which has added dried fruit and nuts to the BOSS. The woodpeckers really like that mixture. I wonder if the grackles would be less interested in the sunflower seeds. I'd do just about anything to reduce their presence at the feeders and I'm not too fond of doves either. As for upside eating- we have our suet feeder hung upside down and we're amazed at quickly the grackles and wrens learned the trick. Not all of them just some of the more clever ones. We're still waiting for our rose breasted to show up - but it only stays for a day or two and then is on it's way north but while it's here it sits at the feeder for a really long time.

This has been my best bird day, ever! Not long after posting this, several Northern Orioles flew in too. "The Gang's All Here!" and they're certainly making my feeder tree and post very colorful. Linda OHnowGA ~ Do you use the "upside down" finch/nyjer feeder? It restricts the seed so only the goldfinches can get to it? That has helped keep some of my costs down. Of course, the Pine Warblers here can eat upside down, too, so they "share." And the doves are always on the ground to pick up the leftovers. Ont Gal ~ There has been a rumor that there have been nesting cardinals in Grand Forks for the past two-three years. I haven't seen them yet, but I keep hoping. Lynn D ~ I've never seen an Indigo Bunting "in person," but I certainly hope to. They have got to be magical. RTHummer ~ f you send me a pair of cardinals, I'll send you a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks! How's that for a deal? Bird on, ladies; Bird on!!!