Backyard Birds #3

Hey Lilly, good to see you too! It sure looks like you have a nest in that skag (dead tree). If that first photo shows the view from your backyard, you are lucky indeed! Very beautiful. The landscape too! May I say WOW!
I keep trying to get good photos of the birds that live here and so far they have eluded me, well, except for the hummers and the crows. So many crows this year, and I'm not seeing the hawks as often as I'm used to.
I was amazed when I had an unexpected visitor. If you follow the pages of this thread back you'll see him. You'll probably have to look in the CA Forum to find them if the link goes wonky.
KC's backyard just got bigger with DG Admin. bringing our little chatty regional threads over to the Bird Watching forum.
I'm thinking of bribing the little feathered ones by actually setting out bird seed to see if they will turn up to eat. My problem is the wind has a tendency to blow the feeders sideways or the seed from the feeder. I'll need to find a different kind of feeder. Sigh.
What has worked for you all?
Well, it's late. I should get some rest.
WIB,
SW

SW you must have some strong wind. My problem is squirrels jumping on the feeders and making them sling seed like a cyclone seeder. If they would do that with fertilizer I could put wheels on the feeders and sit back with a cool one while they do all the work.

Hi SW, I've two feeders that I use interchangibly. I take one down to clean/disinfect, put the other up. This is my back-up feeder, although, it's a cage feeder. It is effective as keeping large birds such as black birds out. Squirrels still can get to it though. Which is fine with me, for any critter that is diligently working that hard -- a little benefitial seeds can be had. lol.

Cardinals, it took them awhile to adapt to the feeder, but finally they master the task and can use it. Piggybag into the main feeder, I've a suet feeder. I noticed those that enjoy the seeds, also supplement themselves with the suet as well.

Frank, lol. I just read your post. My gardening friend, I'll hire your squirrels once you get them trained. lol.

I'm visualizing a "cottage industry" renting out those highly-trained squirrels---sod farm rodents could become valued employees instead of pests...it would be a whole new world!

LOL, imapigeon,
Were you trying to be punny too? LOL, cottage industry indeed!
My dogs hate squirrels and eat them.
We normally get a strong ocean breeze in the afternoon. We also get Santa Ana winds, also known as Devil winds for a reason. This year they just seem to be starting earlier in the day. See dust devils for the last month or so.
Looks like you have winds too Lily_love! I too have two feeders but only use one at time for the reason you do. I just hung the other one up today. I want to get one with perches like duc, has.
I finally went and bought some bird seed and plan to fill the seed feeders. I hope I'll be able to get photos of the other birds around here too. I might have to move the location, I'm thinking it would be nice to have it near the pond.
This Black Phoebe flew into my gh yesterday, and spent a couple of hours in there before he finally figured out how to get out. I was happy he did, because he "tweets" really loud and it echoed in there.
WIB,
SW

punny? moi? NEVER! ;-}

KC,
I sure wish that DG would put this thread back on our CA forum. It gets lost here at the birdwatching forum.

I didn't have a chance to get any photos of him, but I heard the sweetest little songbird out in the yard today. Couldn't even see it clearly enough to describe it. But it's song sure cheered up my heart.
Then I heard the tap, tap, tapping of the woodpecker working on the dead walnut limb.
A symphony of birds.
It was really quite nice. Even the crow cawing wasn't the usual irritant. It must have been because they've been hanging out across the road. I think something died over there. Same spot the last few days.

WIB,
SW

I rescued a blue bird of some sort upon my return home from work yesterday. I'd seen it earlier at lunchtime and moved Olivia from the wrong side of the fence to keep the dog away from the bird. At dinnertime the dogs stalked the bird to about 50 feet away all the way back to the kennel entrance, hiding under a layer of junk/trash stuff. I figure the bird was there and sure enuf she was. So I wrapped my hand in a plastic shopping sack and picked her up from atop her shoulders/wings/back. Boy oh boy, was she unhappy, beak wide open and snarling at us. Then I put her in the cat crate so as to keep her safe and link her with the local songbird rescue club. Newspaper and water inside, covered up with a comforter overnight. I went out first thing in the morning to see how she was doing and she was gone. My heart was broken and I was so sad at her passing and doubtless painful night for whatever reason. A sad outcome.

This evening, though, I returned home to find the little guy below atop the power pole, screeching up a storm. Singing and posturing for more than an hour. What a racket.

I wish I'd been successful in my attempt to rescue to bluebird.

Linda

Will you look at yesterday's sky?

Here, #1.

and here #2

and finally here, #3

panning across the sky.

Aren't these something?

Wonder what kind of clouds they are?

I'm sure they have a name for them. Just plain beautiful to me.

Sad about the blue bird, but you tried.

SW....today the wind was shifted and mostly what I heard was cows in the pasture across the river. LOL

Cirrus clouds. Very high level, typically around 10,000 metres altitude.

Resin

HI, Resin! GR8 to see you. Cirrus, huh? I'm going to have to check them out and find out what they portend for weather, if anything. The sky was unbelievably beautiful, luscious.

So, Sally, you herd the cows across the river, eh? LOL

I'm home from work. Could hardly move this morning. Somehow I pulled muscles in my lower back and am in a lot of pain. And, no, I did not pick anything heavy up. Not sure how it happened.

Have a good day, folks.

Cirrus can mean approaching rain, but doesn't always. I'd suspect in Fresno in summer, it doesn't mean approaching rain.

Resin

Well, actually, Resin, rain was predicted with these pretty clouds. It didn't get here, but was anticipated. We've had unseasonal weather this Spring. Geez, so much to learn, so little remaining time . . . . {chuckling}

No, I don't 'herd them'. But I do have the number to call when they come across the river, then sit back and watch the show while they round them up again. LOL They ended up moving them to another pasture, spoiled all our fun.

What a HOOT, Sally! Around here all we have is dogs and I've herded my share of them in the 30 years I've lived here. Imagine trying to round up a herd of runaway cows? Yes, doubtless it was fun to watch, LOL!

Thanks, my head needed that picture to go fill my mind at bedtime.

Linda

Sorry, that I haven't been online. Been having trouble with our dial up internet provider. Sigh . . .
Changing to fios next week.
I don't know if I got any good photos, haven't been well these last few days. Feel kinda like I had the wind knocked out of me. I'm okay, just really tired.
The weather has just been too weird. Yesterday a scorcher, and today another gray day, although when I just came in the sun was coming out. Go figure.
I've seen some cute bird activity, and even filled up my seed feeders. Took me a while with the big one, because I couldn't figure out how to put the seed in it.
I've been seeing more birds out in the yards and hope I got some good photos to post later.
Didn't have my camera in hand yesterday when I saw the two BCH's on the same branch out in the front yard. Sigh!
Nor did I have it a minute ago when I saw the blue bird, which disappeared when the red tailed hawk came circling overhead.
Sally, I miss my across the street neighbor's cows. They were good company. Besides, we always got our beef from him. Was the best! He's the guy that used to have his kids spot for him when he was shooting the rotten pigeons that had been roosting/pooping on his roof. We used to have a lot of fun watching that circus act. LOL! Times change, and people pass away. Now if someone did that, we'd have half the neighborhood up in arms and the other half saying, "Well you moved to the country, what did you expect?"
At least you didn't have to herd pigs, squirmy, fast and yelling all the time. Come to think of it neither did I! LOL! Was fun to watch though.
Twin, I'm sorry to hear about the bluebird. Sometimes, that is just the way it happens. I was told by a vet I worked for that animals do feel pain, but not like we do. Being NAI, and living on a farm, I know that it is part of the cycle of life, and the ones that die are wounded, weak or diseased. In turn they provide sustenance for other critters. But it doesn't make you feel better when you loose one.
Tip: I'm sure that KC would agree, the best way to pick up a wild bird is to use a towel and cover their heads with it. That makes them calm down. They think it is night time. Then you can (with chickens you tuck their heads under their wings) pick them up and move them with little harm to yourself, and less stress to our feathered friend.
My heart goes out to you Twin, but you are better prepared if this happens again in the future. You did the best you knew how, and it was just it's time. I'm glad that you were there and I'm sure the Blue Bird had the comfort of knowing that for a short space of time it was in a safe, and caring place.
Walk In Beauty!
SingingWolf

Oh goody, I was able to get a couple of these guys. I think they are a gnat or fly catcher. There was a whole flock of 'em traveling between my dead willow and the wisteria, just when I thought they were done flocking another batch would fly.
Enjoy!

Did they have a spat? One has it's back turned and the other is leaving. LOL!

They love this tree. How many birds do you see?

These two look like neighbors gossiping over the back fence.

This last is a photo of a blue bird (I think). But I was too far away! He was on the edge of the cabin.
Saw the egret this morning. Lots of hummer activity.
Got two more photos to share.

Is it? Can it really be?

Sure looks like a swallow's nest to me. I have to go looking for the inhabitant.
WIB,
SW

SW, I think your "flock" might be bushtits---a favorite of mine. Especially because they eat bugs!!
http://davesgarden.com/guides/birdfiles/go/668

LOL, you're gonna need bug-eaters, SW, with that nest up there.

Eeeeeeek!

Linda

Lone Wolf and I discovered it tracking the wasps that inhabit the cabin the swallows nest is built on.
The egret is back.

I saw the neatest bird today, but don't know what kind it was and wasn't able to get a photo. It has a yellow underbelly, and sweetly sings Tweet. Sometimes Twee. It's a seed eater, and has been hanging out near the feeders I finally filled, and it likes the fountain on the courtyard. I haven't seen anybody around the birdbath, but with so many other places to get water they probably go to those places. I'll keep it full anyway.
I should show you a photo of the seed feeders I have.
Since I can't find it after looking for it I'm sending a photo of the bird bath. You can also see a part of the raised planter, the succulent fountain, and my purple bfly bush right behind the birdbath.
I'll take some photos of the bird seed feeder in the morning.
Have a great weekend!
WIB!
SW

Beautiful SW, you have a good weekend too.

Hey, SW !!!

You can stop smiling now!

I'll get a photo tomorrow! Wahoo!

Linda

Got these three birds at the feeder at the same time Sat. morning. Can't get any closer, detail lacks when I use the telephoto, but was happy to see them.
Our version of the Robin? I suspect they may be house finches. Hard to see, but I counted three on the two feeders. They seem to like the one with the bars around the feeding port best.

I count four, SW. One on the top of the hook, two on the globe feeder, and one on the platter. Do you see the one in the back of the globe? I think I see a tail back there.

Linda

Look like house finches to me, they're quite common here. I have them pretty much all year. Love that feeder!!

I thought that there might four too, but wasn't sure. I have been bummed that I haven't had enough time to post these photos I took the other day. Some are blurry, I may have cracked a lens inside my camera, but I'm trying to work around the milky spot in the center of some of my photos. Those house finches are our equivalent of a red breasted robin. I like them myself. I just love the sound of their twittering! It's a happy sound for me. All is right with the world. Sometimes I just like to go outside and immerse myself in their song. Even the staccato drumming of the woodpecker seems to meld, and make all the different bird songs into a symphany (except the crows!), heaven for my ears sometimes. Peaceful and restful.
Sorry about the quality but look at this fine fellow!

The girl finch who was sitting on the other side of this feeder, had flown off. Which tipped the feeder, and spills seed. Then they eat the seed off the ground if there aren't any cats or puppies around. I really wish you could see the expression on his face. It made me laugh.

Still blurry, but I was hopeful, that I'd get better.