THREE LIFERS!!!

Within just over 24 hours, I saw three life-birds, without even leaving the house, right here in our yard!  Very cool!  

Sunday afternoon I was doing the dishes and Linda was reading Harry Potter aloud when I looked out at the dogwood tree, which is just outside the window, to find a bird I had never seen!  Linda grabbed her binocs, and we started "reading" off characteristics: plain greenish-brown back, yellow on sides of tail, yellow spot on wings, yellow spot just under the shoulder, white breast, dark eye, small bird-warblerish size, warbler-like beak... (we forgot leg color).  The bird was very accommodating and hung around a long time so we could get a good look at her (and why didn't I grab my camera or phone??).  Once she left, we each got our favorite books and started looking.  Female Americab Restart!  Wow!  A lifer for both of us.

Monday morning I was talking to my mother on the phone and looked out to see a scarlet tanager sitting in the old crab-apple tree (dead, but it is a great perch for birds near the feeder).  "Wait, mom!  I'll be right back!"  The camera was close by on the table: click, click, click!  This gorgeous bird was on our "want to see" list and I'm sad that Linda didn't get to see it!  Hopefully it will come back when she is here.

Scarlet Tanager singing

Later in the day, I was outside shaking rugs and looked up to see a red-tailed hawk being mobbed by some bluejays.  I got this picture just before it flew!

There was a lot of noise in the trees on the other side of the deck, so I picked up my binoculars to go take a look.  Strange call that I don't think I've heard before.  Wait - movement.  Wow!  New bird!  Lemon yellow belly with no markings running into a gray throat, large black bill, large bird (bluejay size), dark eye, rusty tail (!!!) with the lemon belly, that is going to be distinctive! There were two of them and one turned a bit so I could sort of see that the back was brown or olive or gray and the wings had some wing bars, but I couldn't distinguish details.  They flew.  My Sibley's opened up to the flycatcher section (which was good 'cuz I really wasn't sure where to start) and there it was!

We've had an amazing spring for birds!  Two of the bluebirds that were here this winter stayed on and they must have a nest nearby, as I see them every day (momma is on the feeder right now).  The orioles are enjoying the oranges and suet and the female was here looking for long strings of grass, so they must be building their nest.

I still count five nestlings in the Carolina Wren nest.  I could easily sit and look outside all day long!

BIRDFUL WEEK!

Lots of bird activity this week.  Our Carolina Wren nestlings are growing and there are now five mouths.

Carolina Wren nestlings - probably about a week old

 I thought the picture below was interesting!  I can't figure out what the scaly thing on the bottom right is, though.  The left lump is a beak and head with an eye that isn't yet open.

I looked out at the feeder yesterday and it was quite colorful!  Male Oriole on the suet, Cardinal in the peanuts, Bluebird on top of the feeder pole and two male Goldfinch on the nyger!  I looked back about a minute later and it was all grey, black and white: Tufted Titmouse, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, White-breasted Nuthatch and a female Red-winged blackbird on the ground!  Equally beautiful!!

The Baltimore Oriole pair are keeping me company these last two days.  They are so striking!  This is my first closeup encounter with this bird and I have to say, I like it!

This is peanut butter suet with calcium added for the mama birds.  He seems to like it a lot!

Baltimore Oriole.  Look at his beak as he gets ready to eat!

Now I have GOT to get to work!  Enough play for this morning!!