Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #10
This thread is intended to give people a place to post photos
and/or talk about birds, critters, wildlife, fish, whatever - topics you
might not want to start a whole thread on, but are still
garden-related. You can see the range of possible topics in the previous
threads:
For 2012, see the links posted in
RE RE: Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2012 #7. There may be problems with some of the links. I've corrected those I can edit.
2013 threads:
INDEX: Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2013
2014 threads:
INDEX: Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2014
2015 threads:
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #1
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #2
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #3
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #4
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #5
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #6
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #7
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #8
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #9
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The crows are engaged in their daily attempt to eat the suet in the suet feeder ("Why does she make this so hard for us?"). I think they enjoy the challenge, though, and they can reach the suet on the other side by grasping the pole and stretching over.
Claire
Comments (71)
corunum z6 CT
8 years agoI'll take it, Claire - works for me, too. I've associated robins with Spring like most people, I guess, but I shot this photo this afternoon and by George, it sure looks like Autumn is his proper camouflage.
Jane
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2014 #10
Comments (76)I'm pretty sure this is a first year female RB Grosbeak. A family was born here this year. Just checked Cornell, and I think she should be on her way to South America. Doubt that she would listen to me, but does anyone still have any RBGs around? Of course, I could be wrong and maybe she's a hybrid Lowes/HD sparrow, but she's the only one of her kind here. Jane This post was edited by corunum on Thu, Oct 16, 14 at 17:25...See MoreBirds and other mobile features in the garden 2013 #10
Comments (55)I was living in town when Mr. Walski was giving talks about the wild turkey project. Although the article describes the CT River valley, I think there were other release sites that weren't mentioned. I thought our town was one of them because of the corn, apples and water. We don't have apple orchards any more but although we are down to one dairy farm, a neighbor has quite a few beef cows (and lots of manure). We used to enjoy seeing the turkeys roost in pines along a corn field. As day was ending, they would gather and one by one fly up into the trees. The cattle farmer made improvements to the field since years of not keeping up with things let trees encroach on the field. About 100 feet of pines were cut back. There are plenty more pines but too much heavy equipment activity. The heavy equipment is now parked a distance away and finally we saw three male turkeys in our yard and then exploring the corn field. Last winter we counted as many as 60 coming down from the pines to see what they could get in our yard before making the tour to other places. I don't recalled seeing blue birds in winter before but this year we probably have 8. I counted 4 females and one male picking up suet scraps and thistle seed. We do not have nesting boxes up so I have no idea where they nest but it is probably somewhere behind our house. Thanks for posting the wonderful pictures. A friend has been getting some good shots at the Nashua airport and posting them on facebook....See MoreBirds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #4
Comments (73)In a week's time, I'm counting fewer Juncos after their Red Baron aerial pursuits last weekend, am seeing a tad more dead grass as the snow retreats, and Mrs. Cardinal has gone from flakes on 3-21-2015 to chatting with a young female Finch under sunny skies on 3-23-2015. Found a Titmouse looking depressed in a cold rain on 3-26-2015. So we're progressing. I'm still wondering if there is a male Purple Finch here - could this be him? because she's still here. She has the white lines over her eyes. The possum is still eating cat food everyday as Ivy was elevated to higher protein whole foods. This is funny - last week I cored a Bosc pear with a melon baller and gave the core bits to the possom on the side of his cat food. Next morning, food all gone, plate licked cleaned. A few days later, I had some leftover celery chunks, so I put 3 small pieces on the side of the dish with his cat food. Next morning the dish was whistle clean and the 3 celery chunks were stacked up in the dish untouched. Possom prefers sweet apparently. Jane...See MoreBirds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #9
Comments (74)With the temps we have had, I knew there had to be an explanation! No need for the heated birdbath yet. No juncos so far, and haven't seen a flicker for months, no cardinals for a while either. Haven't put up any feeders yet, but they will go up later this month. Lots of resident bluebirds are still around, as well as nuthatches, chickadees, downys, some blue jays. Goldfinches have been scarce ever since they pretty much stripped the sunflowers. That will change as soon as the thistle feeder goes up. Hoping the abundant crabapples will bring in the waxwings like they did year before last...nothing last year. And there is an upside to the leaves falling...better visibility. Too bad there will be so little daylight. Trade-offs! Susan...See Morecorunum z6 CT
8 years agoRWB - just the two this morning, I think young males. They were fine until they weren't.
Despite the stomach kick, they flew into the chokeberry together.
Jane
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoThe ornamental pear tree fruit is close. Robins and a Cedar Waxwing this afternoon.
Jane
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
homegrowninthe603
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoWell, they came again today and almost nothing else got done, but hey, they're Cedar Waxwings! I took too many pictures, but have tried to be selective. Without boring anybody, there's a link below if you want to see them in the ornamental pear tree. Next chance could be tomorrow, otherwise in February when the Prairie Fire crabapples and the chokeberries are done.
Jane
homegrowninthe603
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoI was going around closing the curtains as the light dimmed (view to the east so no glorious sunset), and I noticed that with the leaves down the squirrel nests are now visible in the oaks. I saw a squirrel bustling around, maybe doing whatever squirrels do to prepare for the night, so I went for the camera and went outside so as not to have to deal with not-too-clean windows.
There are at least five squirrel nests visible here.
This one is nicely tucked into the crotch of the tree and if you look up to the right you can see a squirrel gazing out before settling into the nest for the night.
(The vines have been cut off at the base so they're no longer afflicting the tree.)
Claire
corunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agohomegrowninthe603
8 years agoNothing like putting up the first suet feeders of the season to rally the troops!
Male bluebird in the Pieris
Pine Siskin
Male Cardinal
Chickadee
Female bluebird checking out the action below
Susan
corunum z6 CT
8 years agohomegrowninthe603
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years ago
Happy Thanksgiving to all; I think these turkeys are especially happy to be out enjoying the farmers' cover crop!
corunum z6 CT
8 years agoWhen it comes to little brown birds, this guy wins the singing contest. Outside my window this morning. Makes me smile. What a virtuoso. So happy there is still a pair here. (Credit goes to Canon for getting through all those branches!)
Jane :)
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoLovely colors. And, yes, he does appear to be the town crier or reveler. You do good videos.
Another year of photographing the crowd for PFW because they won't stand still. I doubt being off by a few would be critical, but when the whole crowd shifts at once, ay yi yi.
It's about a dozen fewer than the last crowd.
Jane
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoI can't help but wonder, Jane, if those are gifts or tips. I suppose it's a question of attitude (and crows certainly have attitude) - I can see them leaving something for the wait staff.... Of course, they may actually be heart-felt gifts and I'm just being too cynical. Even if it's a tip at least they like the service.
Pushing the envelope again, I observed the migratory passage today of a mobile feature in my extended back yard - very very extended. The Mayflower II passed by my house today during its migration to the wintering area of Mystic Seaport. Mayflower II Restoration Ship Shape Update: Return to Mystic!
With my trusty camera zoom I saw this:Mayflower II being towed by Jaguar. There's a nice website where you can track the tow vessel as a proxy for the Mayflower.
My father worked in the shipbuilding industry, and when we were kids we would watch ships pass by on the way to the Cape Cod Canal. My father would often drive us to the canal to beep and wave at the ships, particularly if it was one he had history with. The ships would often beep back.In the same vein I drove to the Canal to see it go through. I just barely made it to Scusset Beach in time to catch the rear end passing by.
Claire
corunum z6 CT
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agoNow that the leaves are down and my view is greatly improved, I see more mobile features in my extended backyard. Today I noticed a bunch of seals (probably harbor seals) lounging on the rocks exposed at low tide. They'll float off later as the tide rises.
There were at least eight seals out there. It's hard to see from a distance but after a while you get to recognize the inverted-banana-on-top-of-the-rock appearance.
Two seals sharing a rock.
This one doesn't look all that comfortable.
Time is short before the rocks are submerged.
They were quiet today - sometimes you can hear them grunting and growling, maybe arguing over who gets the best rock.
Claire
corunum z6 CT
8 years agoYesterday the Mayflower, today harbor seals? Really? OMG. You are SO lucky!
Today I got turkey vultures drying themselves, she said with a quiet chuckle.
No matter the price of a house, the exclusivity of a neighborhood ( not mine), if birds pick YOUR roof, well, good luck. There are newer houses two miles away built near a pond but also following fields right in the middle of the turkey vultures' airway. On the roof of at least 6 houses, there must have been 80 big birds congregated for gossip and drying. Not one harbor seal :( .
Jane
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years agocorunum z6 CT
8 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
8 years agoclaireplymouth z6b coastal MA
8 years ago
corunum z6 CT