Category: Birds

Visit and feed.

Throughout the day and every day for more than two weeks, two immature and/or female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds contested the right to visit and feed from our feeders. Here is one of them, photographed from about 2.5 meters away. Image appears a bit out of focus due to shooting through the kitchen window screen.

The contests and visits abruptly ended about a week ago. We have seen no activity since, so we believe they began the long journey south. We will keep the feeders out and filled for any migrants that come this way during the next little while

Handsome.

I captured this handsome Rose-breasted Grosbeak perched on the roof of the window bird feeder. The small squares are fixed to the window and act as a visual reference/barrier, preventing birds from flying into the window and being injured by the impact. Since affixing the squares two years ago, the only impacts have been low-speed and non-injury causing.

Perched.

This Mourning Dove briefly perched on a log next to a Mayapple and two red trilliums just bast bloom, and in front of the bed of sweet woodruff.

A crowd.

Three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks contested space at a feeder this afternoon. I have never seen more than one at a time this year as well as past years.

Three male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks contest for space at a bird feeder.

First sighting ever.

I was puzzled by this bird because it certainly wasn’t a Downy Woodpecker or a Red-bellied Woodpecker. After visiting allaboutbirds.org and consulting my Sibley bird guide, it seems this was my first sighting ever of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a female, an infrequent (as best) feeder visitor. That was two weeks ago and I haven’t seen it since.

In formation.

I somewhat randomly decided to take a particular route home and was fortunate to see watch several flocks of Tundra Swans flying in formation. The little-travelled road has no shoulders so I was able to safely stop in the traffic lane to capture several images.

Surveyed.

On a gloomy day, a Dark-eyed Junco surveyed the scene below before dropping to the ground to glean bits of seed from below the bird feeder.

Formation.

Faye and me were compelled to stop and watch this formation of Tundra Swans.

Way station.

Turkey Vultures are migrating, heading south for the winter. A short time ago we marvelled at the dozens of them soaring, gliding into trees, going to roost for the night at this way station. These are only a few of the 50+ that we had the pleasure to see.

Trio.

I counted 42 Turkey Vultures on the move the other day. Despite my mad snapping away trying to capture such large numbers, after reviewing my images the best I did was to capture this trio.