My township is less than two inches away from the being the snowiest February ever recorded set back in 1958. This coming Tuesday snowfall will most likely surpass the record. I am at my wits end with all of this snow!! There is still one thing (and one thing only) that I enjoy about it. That is, of course, the amount of birds that utilize my feeders and the photo ops they bring.
Let’s just say that my feeders were pretty busy…
Busy bird feeders
My most abundant guest is the Goldfinch… I lost count at 40 the other day when counting them for the GBBC. The only other finches I have been getting this year are House Finches.
American Goldfinch
Male House Finch with ice
Female House Finch
I live in the woods, so I also have tons of Woodpeckers.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Along all of my other regulars…
Mourning Dove braving the storm
White-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
The snow was so heavy on Thursday that it quickly accumulated on birds if they stayed still for a moment.
Dark-eyed Junco with snow accumulation
Mourning Dove with snow accumulation
Some birds took cover in the Christmas tree I have set up under the feeders.
Black-capped Chickadee in my Christmas tree
Dark-eyed Junco in my Christmas tree
I think, overall, the birds are as sick of all of this snow as I am.
If you put out bird feeders for the seed- and nut-eating birds, you are also going to attract the bird-eating birds. Accipiters are known for stalking feeder-birds and I enjoy their visits, even though they could get one of my songbirds. I always had problems getting photos of them because they would fly off at even the slightest motion from inside the house. This was the case earlier last week when a Sharp-shinned Hawk was right outside my window: As soon as I grabbed the camera, he flew off. Disappointed that I only got a photo where his head was behind a tree-trunk, all I could do was hope that he returned for more ops.
Yesterday, he visited again. I just happened to look out my window when my sister pointed out something on a squirrel who was foraging on my deck. The Sharp-shinned Hawk was right above the squirrel.
“DON’T MOVE!” I exclaimed.
I slowly grabbed my camera and started snapping away at the bird through the glass.
Sharp-shinned Hawk through my sliding glass doors
The bird moved to another branch – one that was a really great perch, but I could only take photos at an angle through my window…
This photo was shot through my window at a poor angle. Post processing cleared it up.
…so I slowly opened the sliding door and stuck my camera out. The bird did not move.
I stuck my camera out the sliding glass door for this one.
I moved myself all the way out the door and closed it behind me so that my cats would not get out and scare the bird. He was on the perfect perch, feet away and still did not move.
This photo is not cropped much – he was close!
He continued to look for the birds who were chirping around the trees and moved to another branch a bit further away, but still good for photos.
All fluffed up – it was cold outside!
It was a nice treat to actually be able to watch an adult Sharpie who did not seem to mind my presence.
Stretching after taking a poop (hey! birds poop!)
I went back inside and later came out again only to find that the songbirds were all over the trees calling in alarm. I took a short video of this – sorry about the motion – it was hand held and I stabilized it using Youtube’s built in tools. Hint: look at all of the birds in the background.
He knew the birds were around and continued to look for one that he could grab.
Looking for a meal
He eventually went after a bird and flew to another tree over my deck. The bird must have been hungry so I left him to hunt in peace.
Looking at me, comfortable, with one leg tucked
On a side note – the Hawk returned today and caught what I believe to be a Junco. Unfortunately, not long after he caught it, I saw Crows flying away with his meal. They stole his breakfast and the poor Sharpie has to start over.
Last week, I shared photos of birds on ice. The wintery weather continued this week with a heavy snowstorm. It was so heavy at times, that snow was just accumulating on the birds who would stay in the same place for a minute or more.
Dark-eyed Junco accumulating snow
I had at least thirty or so Juncos on my deck, in the trees and scattered around the ground.
Dark-eyed Juncos
It’s a good thing they are ground feeders or they would have cleaned me out!
Dark-eyed Junco
The Junco’s weren’t the only birds out during this storm – my feeders were very busy with all of my common visitors.
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Finch looking in
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy and Downy Woodpecker comparison
It’s amazing how these birds can survive the winter. I’m happy to provide them with a helping hand.
When there is snow or ice, natural food for birds can be more difficult to come by so they flock to feeders in higher numbers. I woke up to plenty of ice this morning and it has not gotten warm enough to melt – the ice is still neatly covering tree branches and anything else that was not manually de-iced. I was able to get some photos this morning through my sliding doors of some of my common feeder birds – the first real “set” of photos from my new house. Enjoy!
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Finches
Male House Finch
Mourning Doves, sticking together like usual
American Goldfinch
Male American Goldfinch
Even my feeder Chickadee was frozen
And some more birds from the next morning:
Female Red-bellied Woodpecker
Blue Jay close-up
Male Downy Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Dark-eyed Junco moving snow around to search for food
Last month, I moved to my new home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. My yard in Vestal, New York was extremely birdy – in three years and a couple of months, I saw or heard 106 different species of birds. In May, I wrote a post about my first hundred yard birds, which turned out to actually be 103 when I went back and really counted. I saw more great birds after that post – a Great Horned Owl and a Black-billed Cuckoo (I also tacked on one more, a Least Flycatcher, with a photo from 2012). I knew my Vestal yard would be tough to beat.
I set up my feeders as soon as I moved in to my new place and immediately had a few Tufted Titmouse visitors, joined by White-breasted Nuthatches. More birds eventually joined including my favorite feeder birds – a pair of Carolina Wrens.
Carolina Wrens came to visit after hearing them for many mornings
I have three species of woodpeckers visiting regularly – Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied. I’m still waiting to have a Pileated in my yard. So far, I’ve only seen them while biking around the community.
Red-bellied Woodpecker showing us where she got her name
I had a one-day visit from a one of my favorite common finches, a Purple Finch.
Purple Finch
I actually sort of lack in the same regular feeder-bird variety that I had in New York – it’s the MIGRANTS that have hit me hard so far. I am more in the woods and my office is near the tops of the trees so seeing birds is much easier.
My new feeder set up, outside my loft office
Some of my better migrants included tons of Blue-headed Vireos, a Philadelphia Vireo, seven species of Warblers – including one that I never got in Vestal, the Black-and-white Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, both Kinglets, Eastern Phoebes and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.
I also had two surprise birds visit my actual feeders who never did in New York – a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper.
This Ruby-crowned Kinglet used my feeders
It’s been little more than a month and I have 33 yard birds. Things are looking good so far!
One bird who I never thought I would get nice photos of perched and away from feeders was the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. They are so fast and tend to disappear into the trees when they are done feeding. Sure, it was fairly easy to get them in a photo that had a feeder in it, but nothing about that looks natural at all. My secret is to use fallen branches around my bird feeders.
In 2011, I had the Hummingbird feeder hanging from a branch that was attached to my poles. It provided the perfect perch – and the perfect photo opportunities.
Hummingbird feeder set up 2011
Later in the summer, the Hummingbirds were so busy feeding that they did not mind me standing nearby and snapping away while they got ready to feed. You could never guess by these photos that the feeder is so close.
Hummingbird from 2011
Hummingbird from 2011
This year, I have the feeder in a different location, closer to my deck so that it is always in the shade. I got the bright idea to attach a branch to the end of these poles when I started to work outside more. I took a photo of the set-up this morning with my iPhone. Just as I was about to take the photo, while standing within feet of the feeder, one of my guests flew in (look toward the right on the branches).
Hummingbird feeder set up 2013
Now I can get closer – and the feeder is also closer to a tree so that the Hummingbirds can fly for cover if needed. They typically perch on the open branch before feeding and go to the tree after.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male
I am extremely satisfied with the results of this set up! These are only two of the successful photos I was able to get yesterday as the sun was going down. The light was a bit dark, but it was even and the closeness helped me get so many great photos!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female
I also get photos of the Hummingbirds in my closest tree since it is right next to my upper deck, but not everyone has this same convenience!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird in the tree next to my deck
Comparing the above photo – can you even tell that the first two were taken on a lone branch rather than on an actual tree??
Tips on feeding Hummingbirds
There is no need to buy a pre-made Hummingbird mixture – all you need are two very cheap ingredients: water and sugar. Use 1-part sugar for every 4-parts of water; for example, I make two cups of water and mix in 1/2 cup of sugar (or a 1/4 cup of sugar for every cup of water).
Here is how I prepare it:
Bring the water to a boil and remove from the heat.
Immediately add the sugar and mix until it is completely dissolved.
Cover and allow to cool
Add to the Hummingbird feeders in small portions and put the rest away in the refrigerator. I store mine in a water bottle.
Replace the mixture in the feeders every one to three days – depending on the temperature (if it is 90+ degrees, I replace every day).
Do not use artificial sweeteners, honey, Jell-O or brown sugar – stick with table sugar. There is no need to use food coloring – your feeder should be bright enough to attract your guest. Try not to place in the direct sun so that the mixture lasts longer. Remember that sugar water will get moldy if it sits for too long – even the batch in your refrigerator should last no more than two weeks.
The weather has been beautiful all week in my area and I have been taking full advantage of it by setting up my office outside on my covered deck. This gives me a fantastic view of my backyard and feeders.
My set up from this past week. Complete with a Chickadee.
The biggest action have been the Hummingbirds. I currently only have one feeder, but this should change soon because the little fellas are constantly battling over it. I have at least two adult males, two females and one young male.
Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I always hear them chattering back and forth and at other birds, but they are so fast that I hardly have any good photos to show for it.
A dual between Hummingbirds
My earliest migrants are the same as last year – the American Redstarts. I also had a Chestnut-sided and Yellow Warbler visit early on, along with many Red-eyed Vireos.
American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler from last year
My biggest surprise migrant was a new bird for me – a Black-billed Cuckoo! After seeing nothing out of the ordinary during my usual walk along my creek and around through my woods, I noticed a “different” bird fly into the trees as I was nearing my yard. I put my binoculars up and had an initial thought of what it could be. I took a couple of [bad] photos to confirm that it was indeed a young Black-billed Cuckoo. Life bird!!
Yesterday, while photographing Hummingbirds, a couple of House Finches flew onto my nearest branches with a yellow bird. At first, I dismissed it for a Goldfinch but should have known better! I realized that it was a Warbler when it flew into my tree. Thankfully, I was able to see it again in the open – a Prairie Warbler! My first “visual” of one this year. Before this, I’ve only heard them in the spring.
Prairie Warbler
In the previous years, I had some great visitors and I am hoping for the same good turn out – or maybe even some new yard birds?
This is my favorite time of year for backyard birding. Parent birds are bringing their begging babies to my yard and tirelessly giving them food from my bird feeders.
Common Grackle family
The parents are very often attentive and I hardly ever see them actually feed themselves.
Northern Cardinal mom feeding young
Chipping Sparrow feeding young
House Finch Family
American Goldfinch dad feeding young
The young woodpeckers seem to be the most patient and often quietly wait for their meal, not far off from Mom and Dad. They are also the most fun to watch as they attempt to cling anywhere and everywhere.
Hairy Woodpecker
Young Downy Woodpecker
Some birds, like the Crows and Jays will continuously beg even though the parents ignore them.
Young American Crow begging to an adult
Begging Blue Jay
Others show up after they are already on their own and shyly feed themselves.
Young Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Young Cedar Waxwing
Feeding young is a tough job, but someone has to do it!
On Wednesday afternoon I heard a ruckus in the woods behind my house. My neighborhood Crows and Jays were going crazy – which usually means a predator is around. Most of the time, this predator is a Red-tailed Hawk just passing through, but lately they have been acting up from the visiting bears. I kept alert in case I had to bring in my bird feeders – I only have a few hanging from under my deck since their last visit.
Things were starting to get loud so I went to check it out… with my camera in hand, of course. As soon as I walked into the woods I could see what they were mobbing – a Great Horned Owl!! I’ve only ever heard an Owl in my woods (Eastern Screech-Owl for one night only) – this is the first time I actually saw one here. The birds flew into another tree so I climbed the incline and went after them. The Owl was in plain sight.
Great Horned Owl in my woods
The bird hopped around from tree-to-tree until finally settling up high in the treetops out of sight. For the next few hours, Crows, Jays and other small birds would yell and scream at the Owl on and off. I did relocate the bird later in the evening still in the same area that I had left it earlier.
Keeping an eye on the surrounding Crows and Jays
Getting fed up and wanting to rest
Eventually, things quieted down. I do hope that the Owl was able to get a meal before he left… or maybe he is still back there, hiding from the smaller birds. It would be great to gain a new resident!
Today, I took a better look at my yard bird list because I thought I hit the 100th milestone with a singing Wood Thrush. Well, it turns out that I did not hit it today – I hit it last month without realizing it! The Thrush ended up being number 103, making a Barn Swallow that I saw two days ago number 102 and an Eastern Screech-Owl that I heard number 101. Number 100 went to a good one and I wish I knew it at the time – I was outside talking to a friend about yard birds and I mentioned that I have been trying to see Bald Eagles migrate overhead so that I can get it as a yard bird. Ten minutes later, guess who came flying low over the creek while we were standing in my driveway? A Bald Eagle. I did not know it then, but that was yard bird number 100!
I will celebrate this huge milestone with a list of my yard birds and, of course, some photos taken from my yard.
I have some birds who stick around all throughout the year, my true residents and feeder birds
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
American Crow
Mourning Dove
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
European Starling
Tufted Titmouse
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Some birds are here year-round but do not show up often, or show up more in one season than another
Eastern Bluebird
Brown Creeper
Dark-eyed Junco
Ring-necked Pheasant
And Hawks who watch them or are seen flying over the house
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Some birds stay to breed and I see or hear them throughout the summer, but they migrate south in the winter
Gray Catbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Baltimore Oriole
Eastern Phoebe
Chipping Sparrow
American Robin
Field Sparrow (heard only, seen in woods)
Veery (heard only, seen in woods)
Red-eyed Vireo
Turkey Vulture (flying)
Common Yellowthroat (heard only)
Cedar Waxwing
House Wren
Others stay to breed but I only see or hear them once in a while
Indigo Bunting
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Flicker
Ruffed Grouse (heard only)
Ovenbird (heard only, seen in woods)
American Redstart
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Barn Swallow (flying)
Tree Swallow (flying)
Chimney Swift (flying)
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Yellow Warbler
These birds stay throughout the winter but breed further north
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Tree Sparrow
My yard gets a lot of migrating birds who come through in waves
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Pine Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
And birds who come during migration and stay for a few days or even weeks
Fox Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Also birds who I’ve seen migrating over my house, both high and low
These birds are usually flying to or from the neighborhood creek
Mallard (flying, vocalizing)
Canada Goose (foraging across the street)
Green Heron (perched in a tree!)
Great Blue Heron (flying)
Killdeer (flying, vocalizing)
Belted Kingfisher (flying, vocalizing)
Common Merganser (flying, vocalizing)
I’ve only seen or heard these birds once, but hope they return soon
Bald Eagle (flying)
Northern Mockingbird
Osprey (flying)
Rock Pigeon (flying)
Eastern Screech-Owl (heard only)
Swainson’s Thrush
Brown Thrasher
Wood Thrush (heard only, seen in woods)
American Woodcock (heard only)
It is exciting to think about who will show up next or which birds I will see in my yard that I’ve only heard so far. Fall migration is when I get most of my new surprises but hopefully I do not have to wait that long for the next one.
