Tag: feeding 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.

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.

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.

Feeding.

This Baltimore Oriole spent quite a bit of time feeding from the hummingbird feeder. Although the feeder port is quite small – perhaps 3-4mm wide – it was definitely able to feed; I saw it swallow several times. It is setting up ‘housekeeping’ nearby; I hear it singing throughout the day

Focus is a little soft, as I took this through the screened kitchen window.

A good stamp.

Baltimore Orioles are a late spring arrival. Seeing this one was a good stamp on spring finally being here. Photo shot through the kitchen window which has a screen, therefore the slightly out of focus image.

It is at a hummingbird feeder; I have learned over the past several years that orioles prefer them to the oriole feeders I have trialed; the hummingbird feeders are less tippy and unsteady.

Trying to help.

Trying to help the songbirds get through a (what I hope is the last) late winter snowfall by generously scattering seed.

Perched, redux.

Also during the Great Backyard Bird Count, I captured this Black-capped Chickadee perched above me in the redbud tree.

Feeding birds.

Feeding songbirds during a snowfall. American Goldfinch (left) and House Sparrow (right).