Painted Bunting and Bullocks Oriole Siting

DATURA12 Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jul 18, 2008

I am sooooo excited, yesterday I found a Painted Bunting in my yard in Saginaw, Tx. I was weeding the garden of tall weeds and threw them into my compost bin, since I still had more work to do I left the top off the composter. As I was in the sunroom watching TV I noticed a bird in the full bin. At first I thought it was one of my Robins as I could only see the breast. I grabbed the binoculars and low and behold it was a Bunting. Never having seen one except in pics and assuming we did not have them in my area as it is a surburban development I was astonished. I noticed it was eating the seeds off of the weeds. I went to my library to see what food they eat so that I could possibly coax them back. I had to close the compost bin but before I did, I cut off all of the seed heads, bundled them and stuck them in a pot, I also added a capful of seeds that I use for my finches. Oh how I can't wait to see it again and hope it chooses my garden to visit often.

The Bullocks Oriole (I assume) showed up about two weeks ago, it flew overhead twice but I haven't seen it since. Again back to my books I see it likes oranges so I rigged up a hanging tray and keep a fresh slice of orange and cup of grape jelly attached to it. So far I haven't seen it again but the Robins and Mockingbirds are loving the treats. Its funny to watch them stick thier beaks in the jelly pick there heads up with jelly all over thier beaks.

I am really not a birder, but the plants in my garden are all chosen for the birds and butterflies. Unfortunately the Mocking birds love the catepillar larvae and are stealing them off my plants, same thing with the spiders. On the good side they are really keeping the garden clean of insects.

Anything more food I can offer to keep them as visitors to my garden? I am so easily entertained, aren't I ???!!!!