I went to Costco today--as my one year membership is soon to expire--and p/u some supplies.
I will not be renewing--as I do not need to shop for the large quantities of things they sell.
BUT--It is SO tempting.....Everything looks so inviting....
One thing I picked up was a 40lb bag of Audubon Bird seed for $19.99. Great deal!
Reading the contents list--there was NO Milo listed!!! I hate Milo--no birds eat this!
Ingredients were just both kinds of Sunflower seeds--Sunflower seed kernels--Millet---and Safflower seeds.
Will save it for winter when the birdies are starving.....Right now--I am NOT really putting out bird seed.
I could--but the ravenous squirrels would trash the feeder. Then any Rabbits in residence (have not seen any lately)
would come and feed on the bird seed--as would Chipmunks and other Rodents....
Mostly I joined Costco so that my daughter would have a card--but she now shops, exclusively, at Aldis
to save money. What a GREAT place to shop!!! PLEASE look into this place if you not have done this yet!
Limited supplies--but you can get everything you need---for a lot cheaper prices.
Again to repeat----Aldis does not take Credit cards--Only Debit cards.
The do not provide free bags for your Groceries--but you can buy them--if you did not bring any.
You have to bag your own purchases in your own bags. NO BIGGIE!!!
You have to insert a quarter to get a cart--but you get it back when you return the cart.
In the end--you save a lot of money! Gita
June 2011+ Mid Atlantis Birds
I need your help with another bird ID!
I saw a group of 3-4 birds that were very small -- not much bigger than hummingbirds.
They had fat, rounded white bellies and possibly blue (?) coloring on the back or throat.
Sorry, that's all I got! Any ideas?
SS--
I am not the bird expert here.....Ask Sallyg--or get a bird book and check it out.
Sorry! Gita
Gita, I've been looking at various bird websites, and I think it might be a white-belly variety of a warbler.
It might have been on its way south for winter.
I thought it could be a chickadee, except it seems this isn't chickadee territory.
Chickadee aren't usually seen in groups
Did they have a crest?
I put in what I could from the description you gave and came up with
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/351/_/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher.aspx#history
ss
I often see chicadees here and in 'groups'. Don't know where you or Jen got your info to the contrary.
Chicadees are "little" and visit my yard and feeders regularly as part of a mixed group of birds I think mine are Carolina Chickadees. Have you seen them again? They are "Birds Every Marylander Should Know".
http://wildmaryland101.blogspot.com/2012/04/birds-every-marylander-should-know.html
Also, as weather and climate patterns have shifted, so have bird territories and migratory routes.!
Maybe when I see them they already have their food idk??? They take the food (after foraging in mixed group) and retreat alone to a tree branch
Good point Jen. Mine do seem to take turns and as one is flying away, another is flying in! It's like juggling, because the one flyoing in from a nearby branch closest to the feeder is immediately replaced by the next waiter in line. One day I tried to follow where each bird flew to after picking up a snack. One bird made over nine trips to the same 'thicket' and re emerged almost immediately to get in line again.. I have read that they will cache some of their food to eat later. A lot of days last winter a woodpecker or two seemed to be part of the 'mixed flock'. Cute enjoyable little birds!
Have to get my feeders back up took them down for the hurricane...but they are saying we may get hit with another nor'easter next week...geez a loo!!!
Coleup, thank you for that website! I need to read it carefully.
I'd looked at some maps that showed chickadee habits. They must've been for a different variety, because the map didn't include part of the country.
Jen, that gnatcatcher is also a definite possibility.
What I remember the most about the bird is how round and white the tummy was, and how little it was.
I will let you all know if I see them again. I'll try to get a better look at the secondary colors.
Another possibility hit me, cause I saw one today was a dark eyed Junco(female in your case)
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?allSpecies=y&searchText=dark%20eyed%20junco&curGroupID=1&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1
and I def see them more in groups
Please join us over here...
as we continue to observe the little birds that visit our backyards this winter!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1288659/