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.
This sprightly little fellow (or lady!) watched me from the safety of the Manitoba Maple tree in the back yard.
A neighbours’ free-roaming cat has the temerity to trespass in our back yard. While we like cats, we like them as inside-only pets. The dogs very much do not like cats. We, and the dogs, pop out at random times to keep kitty guessing, to keep the songbirds, and this welcome guest, as safe as possible.
During the 2023 /Great Backyard Bird Count, I captured this House Finch and American Goldfinch perched on a feeder.
An American Goldfinch attempted to share a perch at the feeder with a House Finch. The House Finch didn’t budge, so the goldfinch had to leave and wait its turn.
I relocated the feeder mentioned in the previous post in an effort to make it more difficult for squirrels to get at. This Blue Jay adjusted to the new setup in no time at all.
songbird
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.
Although the buffet was crowded there was room for one more.
Incoming!
We have a watering station set out for the songbirds. While we enjoyed the late winter-early spring sun one afternoon, this honeybee – an unexpected yet welcome visitor – landed at the station.
Today was the first day I have seen an Evening Grosbeak. In addition to these two at one of my sunflower feeders and a House Finch that tried to move in, nine more Grosbeaks foraged elsewhere.
Despite a day of freezing rain, sleet, and rain, four bathing Pine Siskins are joined by an American Goldfinch.
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