Category: Birds

Returned.

It’s good to see that the swallows have returned. I was pleased to see these Tree Swallows swooping over a shallow pond.

Tundra Swans.

Tundra Swans gather by the thousands in the corn- and potato-fields near Grand Bend Ontario as they start their journey to their nesting grounds in the far north.

Were fortunate to be able to detour last weekend to see the swans. It was an overcast day with light snow falling. These two commuted from a field on one side of the road we observed from, to a field on the other side of the road.

Spring is here.

Tundra Swans are on the move. I drove by a field and hundreds were flying, standing, resting.

Spring is here. I’m blessed to witness its arrival.

Life feeds life.

I have fed songbirds for about 15 years, 13 of which here at this home. I count birds for Project FeederWatch and this weekend have counted them for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

A large number of birds of several species visited yesterday, a little more than two days after a major snowstorm. There had been very little activity today, and early this afternoon I saw why.

Sometimes, I feed more than songbirds. A Sharp-shinned Hawk had apparently been keeping watch, and it pounced on a House Finch.

A very talented friend once used the phrase ‘Life feeds life’ as a blog post title. It seemed like an appropriate title for this post.

Rarely visit.

Although American Crows overwinter in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands in my area, they rarely visit the backyard. This is the first one I have seen in the backyard in four or five years.

Compressed.

For the past three weeks, temperatures have been mostly mildly below freezing to well below. The St. Clair River has largely frozen over so open water is limited. As a result, overwintering waterfowl been compressed into small spaces. I saw in this small open water area Mute Swan, Tundra Swan, Canada Goose, Redhead, Bufflehead, and possibly another species.

Incoming!

Although the buffet was crowded there was room for one more.

Incoming!

Found it.

It has been a cold and very dry January. Open water has been a scarce resource for the songbirds that we feed. The heated bird bath failed. I bought and put out a new one, and the American Goldfinches found it within fifteen minutes.

Skittered.

A Dark-eyed Junco skittered across a porch step after a recent snowfall.

I want to thank you, my dear readers, for visiting my blog. I also want to wish you merry Christmas, joyous Kwanzaa, hope you have had a happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, an excellent solstice, and a healthy, prosperous 2022.

Bird watching.

I have participated in Project FeederWatch since 2008. From November to April, I put out a bird feeder and once weekly record the birds that visit.

I started last weekend. On that very mild weekend I recorded four birds – three American Goldfinches and one House Finch. It’s a little colder this weekend and there has been much more traffic. 

This photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker is from last year. Tomorrow, I might be able to capture a photo of a feathered visitor.