Oregon Backyard Birds

White-crowned Sparrow

2012-02-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Continued sparrow tales....

This is a White-crowned Sparrow. It is different from the Golden-crowned or the White-throated. This one has a black-and-white striped crown.

From the side view, you can tell the rest of the body is similar to the other sparrows.

Even with Golden-crowned Sparrows (3 of them), a White-crowned Sparrow seems to get along OK.

On the birdbath, I have not seen any fight between the left (Golden-crowned) and the right (White-crowned).

"A mild mannered, chubby bird, just say cheese."

A male and a female of the White-crowned Sparrow look the same; a juvenile has brown stripes on the head. They are around all the year in the milder climate of the western half of Oregon.

To figure out which is which in a big family of sparrows, you need to have a pair of binoculars handy, be it in your backyard or for your outing.

Song Sparrow

2012-02-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

In a bird book, you can find many kinds of sparrows, from the most common, House Sparrow, to many others such as the Song Sparrow.

One day, I went to a park not far from here. There I bumped into a Song Sparrow which was singing to its heart's content.

Even when I came near, it kept on singing. Probably because the park provided a comfortable home for them and there was nothing to worry about.

In my backyard, only a couple of times so far I noticed a Song Sparrow. On a wintry day one landed on a bare rose bush.

Early spring when violets were in bloom, another one stopped over.

Song Sparrows have a long, rounded tail and a broad grayish eyebrow. They like insects and seeds, but rarely come for a feeder. Their shades and streaking vary among the subspecies. For example, large Alaskan races on the Aleutians are very gray-brown, whereas the Pacific Northwest (Oregon) ones are the darker and redder.

When you hear a bird singing away as happy as can be, it may be a Song Sparrow. Just look for the prominent grayish eyebrow.

Sunny and Warm Day

2012-02-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was sunny and warm. People were walking in the neighborhood here and there. Let's see how birdies thought about it.

At the dawn, a crow was announcing a beautiful day.

Pretty soon, a Bewick's wren began to sing a song. It was my first time to hear him. How pretty he can sing!

Later, someone came to the suet. Someone with a LONG beak....

Pick-a-boo ....

You guessed it. It was a Northern Flicker (female). They have been around many times.

"Yeah, That's me. Early morning, I have to make lots of squawking noise to make sure everyone is out of my way."

Someone with a SHORT beak and dark feathers. Who could it be?

"It's me. Remember my name?"

"I am Ms. Junco. I am one of the resident birds here."

"We are two brothers and one sister. Who could we be?"

"We are Lesser Goldfinches. I just saw a white thistle seed bag hanging out on a wisteria branch. I like it, 'cause it is soft and easy-to-hang onto."

Well, everyone surely enjoyed yesterday's warm weather.

Cedar Waxwing

2012-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

Today a beautiful blue sky, but with gusty wind! Because of the terrible wind, not many birds came here. Even mid-sized European Starlings had a hard time flying straight, being pushed to the side with the whims of the wind.

A couple of years ago, under a September blue sky, I was in a small town south of Portland, when I first saw a flock of facinating birds.

Their face reminded me of an alien. The birds were Cedar Waxings.

Last summer, when I looked out toward an apple tree, there they were eating sweet apple blossoms. That was the first time they showed up in my backyard.

See this face. It has a scary look!

A matured Waxwing has the red tips on the wing; a juvenile lacks the red tips.

After the first year, they get a black mask. After the 2nd year, they get the red wing tip.

Another time, I saw one on a wisteria branch with yellowish pollen all over the face. A look of a naughty kid being caught in the act.

They are around in Oregon most of the year, oftentimes perched on top of tall trees. They like cedar cones, insects and fruits, especially berries.

If you see a Waxwing next time, check to see if they are one year old, or two (or more) years old.

Signs of Spring

2012-02-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

Early in the morning, a Scrub Jay perched on the neighbor's spruce tree, smelling the spring.

Just like the Jay, I can see and hear the changes in the backyard.

My pear tree branch got new leaf buds.

Look close to this Pine Siskin's beak. You can find the remnants of those buds!! But when pear flowers bloom, birds can help transfer the flower pollen to grow pears in the fall. So this is the rule of GIVE and TAKE.

A House Finch was busy singing on top of the pear tree. He is the #1 singer in my backyard. What a lovely song!!

Later, an American Robin joined in singing, welcoming today's warm weather.

One Anna's humming bird flew in, ignoring the sugar water and said to me, "I don't need the water anymore, 'cause I'm busy catching bugs for a change." Now I know why hummers have not shown up to the feeders for a week.

Everyone had fun today.

Evening Grosbeak

2012-01-30T19:24:00.000-08:00

On the top of a tall fir tree, I first found these strikingly colorful birds.

A total of six of them looking over the horizon in the bright December morning sun. Since then, I always wished some of them would come down to my backyard...

Several months later in June, one female just arrived on one of my feeders. and soon after a fancy looking male followed.

First he explored around the lawn,

then onto another feeder, and met Mr. House Finch without any quarrel.

Next to inspect was .......

Of course, a birdbath. It is essential to have clean water for a break in the summer time flying.

So Mrs. Grosbeak added, " No problem."

They move in large flocks, searching for food throughout the year. When they are near here, they will surely stop over again.

Stellar's Jay

2012-01-28T18:16:00.000-08:00

Stellar's Jay is all over Oregon except the cold southeastern Oregon. It likes a suburban area rather than in-town.

The first time when I saw it, I said, "Wow...!" Its head looks like a crow, but it has a bright neon-blue body.

After that, one year has elapsed, and I have given up seeing it again.
Then suddenly it reappeared, being chased by resident Scrub Jays.

This Stellar's was hastily craving seeds close to my patio, anxious of Scrub Jays' repeated harassing.

Under the circumstances, it made a stern face. But nonetheless it is a pretty bird.

It has a large, pointed black crest on head, which can be lifted at will (just like this photo). A male, a female, and a juvenile all look alike. They do not travel for a long distance, and rather they prefer to stay in their hometown. The Birds of Oregon Field Guide confirms this by saying, "... rarely dispersing far, usually breeding within 10 miles of the place of birth."

Looking toward the setting sun, one Stellar mumbles, " In Oregon, I just love a fall sunset surrounded by brilliant red maple leaves.

American Crow

2012-01-26T17:48:00.000-08:00

Early in the morning when I look around outside, often I can spot one or two crows on top of a tall tree. They are said to be one of the smartest of all the birds.

Often I see them acting as goodwill police by spotting a hawk, giving a warning call loud and clear, and chasing the predator out of the way.

Per National Geographic's Field Guide, adults are readily identified by familiar CAW call whereas juveniles give a higher-pitched, nasal CAH begging call.

Last year a few crows came down to my backyard to wander around. A male, a female, and a juvenile all look alike: All-black bird with black bill, legs, and feet. They eat fruit, insects, mammals, fish, seed, and the suet. Some can live up to 20 years.

So next time when you hear a crow, just listen. Is it an adult or a juvenile?

Lunar New Year (新年快乐）

2012-01-23T16:55:00.000-08:00

Today is the lunar calendar's New Year. Many people including Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese celebrate this day. According to the Chinese zodiac, this is the year of Dragon.

In the morning between the rain clouds, I sometimes see seagulls flying gracefully with their wings wide spread.

And I can hear a flock of Canadian geese honking as they fly to another feeding spot.

Down here in my backyard, an aggrressive, but pretty Yellow-rumped Warbler flew in to PICK A BOO a Bewick's Wren right from behind.

Be nice, guys. There is plenty of food around here.

"Yup, I am behaving," so says an Anna's humming bird as it sips its favorite sugar water. "Happy Lunar New Year!"

American Robin

2012-01-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

American Robin can be seen all the year around in Oregon, but during the winter months, some can migrate to the south. As a result, I have not seen many of them lately.

When the Robin first arrived here, it was very cautious. As soon as it saw a shadow inside the patio glass door, it always flew away. But nowadays, it knows my backyard is a safe place.

When spring arrived, it enjoyed the birdbath.

Liking it so much that it became rather rude to say, "Back off! This is just for me."

Time flew fast when having fun. Soon it was the time to build a nest.

Later, one summer evening I came out to the backyard, and all of the sudden I heard someone's frantic calling. Amongst the grown veggies I could not see anyone.

Then, slowly this little one crawled out onto the trellis yelling for mum for a pick up. Probably the mummy fled when I came out (Lest assured the mum came back soon).

On a hot summer day, one felt so drowsy it conked out for a while.

Yesterday a Robin stopped over and looked well, busily cleaning up the feathers.

"I got so wet with this week's snow and rain. I wish I could take a nice bath like in the summer time."

This Winter's First Snow Days

2012-01-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

This week we got our first snow. Not so much accumulation, but it was exciting to see it again.

Early in the morning an Anna's hummer still came here to have a sugar drink. But usually for birds, snow can create much disturbance in their pursuit for finding food.

Every morning I go out to refill breakfast seeds to the feeders. See my foot print.

Someone else was helping me. You guessed right: squirrels to help finish more than their share of the sunflower seeds.

This slushy morning, a flicker got so wet coming here to eat the suet. I hope she got the head dried a bit later.

A White-throated Sparrow and two Finches were here, too, trying to find seeds on the lawn.

This Pine Siskin arrived first; the rest of the flock flew in soon to crowd the feeders under the patio roof.

On a snowy day, everyone tends to swarm in to a nearby feeder to cause a temporary overcrowded condition. Even an aggressive Starling had to wait for its turn to eat.

By the end of today, the snow is almost gone and tomorrow the usual Oregon rain will return. A good news for birds.

Band-tailed Pigeon

2012-01-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

Every morning from my dining room, I can see the top of a tall fir tree in my neighborhood. Always some birds are there looking around to decide which direction to go. They can be a flock of Starlings, several Robins, a couple of Flickers, a Hawk, and once in a long while a Band-tailed Pigeon.

On a rare occasion, one or two can come down to visit my backyard.

On a summer day, a couple of them wanted to satisfy their thirst at the birdbath.

Just in case you wonder about the difference between a pigeon and a dove... Per National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America, "The larger species of these birds usually are called pigeons, the smaller ones dove." Since they are strong and fast fliers, until fairly recently (those days without Internet!) people used pigeons for sending often an urgent, important message tied onto their legs. They have done quite a job for us.

Lesser Goldfinch

2012-01-14T17:30:00.000-08:00

Last year I did not see much of the lesser goldfinches. Once in a while they showed up, 1 or 2 at a time. So, I checked with Audubon Society's bird count data, but their population seemed to be not on the decline. So they were just busy elsewhere and might find their way back to my backyard soon.

Lesser Goldfinches come here most of the year around except in the cold winter months. They are smaller than American Goldfinches. The male has a black cap and a greenish back (western states). The female and the juvenile have dull yellow.

On a windy spring day, a male lesser was singing.

On a sunny June day, a couple of them fled to the top of a pine tree away from my camera lens.

On a hot day, a male has to stop for a drink.

One very hot September day, a whole family crowded into the bird bath.

They like to eat seeds all the time (no insects please) and their summer favorite is dandelion seeds. So I try to save some instead of pulling them all out (no pesticides are used here).

Sunflower leaves are another favorite. First time seeing them eating dandelion seeds and munching on sunflower leaves was quite a surprise to me.

In the fall, they looked for fallen seeds after the garden was all cleared. A lot of things to do here in my backyard.

Come back in the spring time.

Spotted Towhee

2012-01-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

I have not seen a Towhee for a while in my backyard. Probably because it went to the coast where it is warmer than here in the inland.

In spring, it often flies onto my fruit tree and then to the fence looking for some seeds on the ground.

A few times I noticed Mr. (black) and Mrs. (brown) Towhee came together finding food among the little violet flowers,

and then through the iris bushes.

Early in the morning, I sometimes heard one singing not a melodious song, but a simple trill of various speed up on a tree.

"I will be back when spring flowers start to bloom. See you soon."

Mourning Dove

2012-01-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of a sad cooing from somewhere above? A few years ago when I did, I thought about an owl. But I was wrong. Who could it be?

It was from a Mourning Dove.

First they were very cautious, so they stayed on the fence to check on me.

When I got a birdbath out on the lawn in spring, they thought they would try it.

By autumn, one got the nerve to get closer to my patio.

Nowadays, they come to my backyard often to walk around and find seeds. One even tried to tell me, "Yes, you have passed our safety inspection. We will visit you often."

Red-breasted Nuthatch

2012-01-07T18:04:00.000-08:00

When I hear a high-pitched, nasal sound like a toy tin horn, I know who is coming: a little bird with a unique look called "Red-breasted Nuthatch"

Its characteristic is to walk downward, which all the other birds can't do.

See. No matter where it is, it can walk downward without any effort.

Some say you can tame a curious bird such as nuthatch or chickadee easily. One time when I was out in my backyard, a young nuthatch saw me peeking through a camera lens. I got a bit closer, and the nuthatch even came closer hopping to me!!!

Here it is. A very close look of a curious young bird

(too close for a telephoto lens)

A male has a black cap, while a female and a juvenile have a duller cap and paler underparts.

It likes to eat sunflower seeds.

On a snowy day, it comes here to find its favorite suet.

House Sparrow

2012-01-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Last spring I set up a bird nest box and soon someone was carrying in some nest material.

In the early summer, I found house sparrows were using the new box. Later, a young one was peeking out waiting for a parent to return.

Babies soon learned to fly and then out into my backyard.

See, even outside of the nest, it still liked to get fed for a while. But pretty soon it learned to get food on its own and become independent.

"Now I can fly over a tall pine tree, Ya ho!"

"I can have a drink whenever I get thirsty!"

"I am enjoying a stroll among dandelions to find a bug."

My mother used to tell me, "Many years ago, I used to get up with a sparrow's chirping in the morning without an alarm clock." Well, although I no longer have to get up early to get to work, House Sparrows still wake me up early in the morning.

P.S. I checked the bird box at the end of summer to see how it looked like inside.

Aha, it is stuffed with everything!! Hundreds of trips to make that comfortable bed. A lot of work required to make a nest.

Bewick's Wren

2012-01-03T21:15:00.000-08:00

This little bird appears with a loud, flat, hollow "jip" calling. When I first heard it, I looked around to see it flying straight like an arrow from one place to another.

Bewick's Wren visits my backyard often throughout the year. When the suet is crowded with other birds, it can eat the dropped suet chunks on the ground.

The wren has inconspicuous color, so it is important to let others know loud and clear by saying, "This is my turn to gabble the suet!"

Sometimes it likes to dance pretty on the fence for me to see.

New Year's Greetings

2012-01-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

謹賀新年!

新年快楽!

Backyard birds like to send you their 2012 greetings:

European Starling: "I'm diving into my 2012 gracefully."

Yellow-rumped Warbler: " I have landed into the 2012 safe and sound."

Pine Siskin: "I have found a new feeder all by myself."

"On this New Year's Day, I'm predicting a very good year for all birds and other living things in this backyard."

Yellow-rumped Warbler

2011-12-30T16:50:00.000-08:00

My wish came true this morning. A patch of blue sky appeared here and there for a while. Contented birds flew in and out.

Guess who captured the sunshine in my backyard.

After eating a favorite suet, a yellow-rumped warbler opened up the wings.

The warm sunshine drying up the wet branch.

And very soon, the nature displayed a beautiful rainbow in front of us.

Finches

2011-12-28T19:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday a dark, gloomy, rainy day returned. A typical winter weather in Oregon.

Not being able to find food out in the fields, more birds tend to come into town. In early morning when I was bird watching, quite a few birds flew in. To name a few,

American Goldfinch

They often come in a flock of several.

House Finch

On a nice day, a handsome house finch sings a lovely song on the top of a tree. If you hear it, just look up. You are sure to find him.

Pine Siskins

A Pine Siskin has prominent yellow stripes on the wings and visits here in winter.

These birds belong to the finch families, although they look abit different. They all like to eat black roasted sunflower seeds in my backyard. A bird with a pointed beak such as a goldfinch or pine siskin likes to eat thistle seeds, too.

I am already wishing for a sunshine once in a while. Birds love it just as I do.

Bushtit

2011-12-26T15:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was quiet around here. We stayed home, cooked Christmas dinner with turkey and its trimmings, and visited with our family members.

Out in my backyard, birdies were as usual stopping by. I gave them Christmas treats, their favorite "peanut delight" suet. Then I just eavesdropped on what bushtits were saying.

B1: "Hey, it is so quiet today. What's going on with people?"

B2: "Yeah, it's so eerie. What are they scheming this time?"

B3: "No worry, you guys. It is Christmas. That is why they are staying home and enjoying their company."

B4: "People are so happy with the gifts from Santa that they promise to themselves to be a kind, helpful and happy person for the coming year."

Bushtits come here all year around. In spring and summer, they can be 2-3 together. In fall and winter when the weather changes to cold, they form a big flock of 15-20.

A male has black eyes, a female has yellow eyes, and a juvenile has dark brown eyes.

Townsend's Warbler

2011-12-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the most important time of the whole year. Keep up with your good behavior so that Santa arrives with what you want.

For me personally, yesterday was a very joyous day because a Townsend's Warbler returned to my backyard for the 2nd season. It visits here once in a while during the winter months. It has a striking appearance with the contrasting colors of yellow and black. Doesn't its face look like a Beijing Opera mask?

A mature male has black on its throat and upper chest, while a female and a juvenile have yellow on its throat.

To tell the truth, it had arrived here a few weeks earlier. But aha.....the suet was just emptied by starlings. Being disappointed to see no suet, it took off right away to MY disappointment. So when I saw the bird again yesterday eating the suet and hanging around, I was truthfully delighted.

"Your suet is scrumptious! I will be back."

"Merry Christmas, everyone!"

Scrub Jay

2011-12-22T19:09:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows about this bird, who has dazzling blue feathers, but to everyone's disappointment, it makes a terrible noise and chases away every other bird, acting as the neighborhood bully.

But I need to give some credit to a Scrub Jay.

Credit #1: A few years ago when I was feeding shelled peanuts to a squirrel, a scrub jay came and got two at a time with the big beak.   Seeing that, a squirrel tried to do the same.   A jay taught a squirrel to be more efficient.

Credit #2: Since a jay was waiting for a peanut on an apple tree branch, I decided to take a closeup photo first and then give a peanut.   A jay taught me how to bird watch and photograph.

In my backyard, a scrub jay is a regular resident. In spring, it walks around the apple tree branch carefully.

In summer, it likes to take a bath in the bird bath just like other birds.

In fall, it walks through fallen leaves to find some bugs.

"See, I can be a nice bird. Just I do not have a melodic voice like other birds."

In winter, it still likes to fly in to get its favorite peanuts.

European Starling

2011-12-17T16:26:00.000-08:00

I bet everyone has seen this bird at one place or another. It has a dark body with star marks all over. In the sun, it gets shiny bluish/purplish colors. These birds fly in a big pack, devouring the food available.

Since it came from Europe, its official name is European Starling. Out in the fields, they like to eat left-over grains. In town, they empty the suet quickly to my dismay

When they are around, they invite lots of bird activities . When Starlings are poking into the hanging suet, little birds can eat little dropped chunks of the suets at the same time.

See, it is looking around to decide which backyard to raid next. Maybe your backyard. Watch out!!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

2011-12-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Guess who's coming when the weather gets very cold. I've been waiting for someone for a couple of weeks.

Finally a Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed up in my backyard. It visits here from winter to spring. It is a little grayish green bird with the white ring around the large eyes. A male has a ruby-colored crown which is hidden and comes out once in a while.

Its tiny body was flitting around the dormant rose bushes to find bugs to eat. It moves quicker and is smaller than a chickadee.

In the deep winter when all the bugs are gone, it also likes to eat the suet at a feeder.

It sure looks as if a little bird king has a pretty crown.

White-throated Sparrow

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Are you all waiting for Santa? Someone coming to see us in December, is plump, and has a white beard.

Well, I found one in my backyard.

See, he's got a big white beard.

He is rather plump. And he arrives in December here. His official name is white-throated sparrow. He even has conspicuous yellow eyebrows as well.

This is the second season I found him here. Be it in the U.S., Japan, or China, I have seen sparrows. They must be all over the globe and have many varieties. Next time when you see a sparrow, look a bit closer to find if it has a Santa's white beard.

Chickadees, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed

2011-12-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

Chickadees are little hyperactive birds, rarely staying still. They are regular residents here in my backyard, eating seeds, roasted sunflower seeds, and the suet.

In the spring time, they also eat small green worms on an apple tree.

In the backyard, I no longer use chemical pesticides since birds eat a majority of little bugs and worms.

This summer a mom chickadee brought her babies for training.

Looks cute, doesn't it? It still has yellowish corner on the mouth. It was waiting for mom to return with food.

Another chickadee is called Chestnut-backed chickadee, which comes here once in a while. It is a bit smaller than the other one and its back is chestnut-colored.

Both kinds are very curious and always find a new feeder first before anyone else. When I am out, they even fly right over my head, telling me "Hey, I know you."

Oregon Junco

2011-12-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Burr........ It is cold. It is the midday, the warmest time of the day, but it is only 30 degrees (F) on my patio.

But in the backyard I see juncos everywhere no matter how cold it gets. They love the cold weather, visiting here from predawn till past the sunset. They arrive in a flock of 3-10 or more.

On a frosty branch, a female Oregon junco was spotlighted with the brief sun shine. While a female has a gray head, a male has a black head.

Since their claws are smooth, not rugged like other birds', they like to eat on the ground the seeds that fall from the bird feeders.

Sometimes one tries to eat a left-over apple on the tree.

See, she is checking how it is! I hope it's a refreshing one after so much of seeds.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

2011-12-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

When the temperature went down below freezing, a yellow-rumped warbler returned. For past three years, it came to my backyard to eat the suet.

Sometimes it could find a big worm on the lawn as well.

A male has a bright yellow color.

When it reaches the suet, it jumps showing the yellow rump. That is why it gets its name.

Like a ballerina. Don't you think?

Anna's Hummingbirds

2011-11-29T18:57:00.000-08:00

A hummer can be the cutest whirring-winged creature to us,

but to themselves, it could be the total opposite. Today I observed continuous battles between two young ones.

"I'm gonna get my enemy."

"Bang!@#" The sugar water feeder is now a battlegound. One can not drink gingerly any longer. If you do, you'll be a dead bird.

But between the rounds of chasing and fleeing, the two can pretend not to mind each other on a bare tree for the time being. Well, even for little birds like a hummer, the life is sometimes very tough.

Cooper's Hawk

2011-11-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

One morning I was birdwatching through the patio sliding door with a camera in my hands. Wow!! Out of nowhere a giant bird flew across the backyard. Before I did anything else, that bird came right back and landed in front of my patio.

It was a Cooper's Hawk. I did not dare to move, afraid that the hawk would sense a shadow and fly away at any moment. I focused the camera lens on the eyes.

It scanned around with wicked eyes, but could not find a squirrel which was here a second earlier. I was relieved and locked this encounter with my photos.

Dawny Woodpecker

2011-11-27T16:55:00.000-08:00

I heard a loud calling of "chi, chi, chi." After a moment a faint calling of "chi, chi, chi" from far away. Trying to find out who it could be, I sneaked behind an opening in the camouflage curtains out on the patio.

There it was a young male Dawny Woodpecker perched on an apple tree branch busy talking. It comes to visit my backyard to eat the suet all year around. A male has this bright red color on its nape.

Red-tailed Hawk

2011-11-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

A red-tailed hawk perches on a tall sequoia tree here, looking around on a nice day.

One time I found a few feathers left thrown in the middle of my backyard lawn. Another time I found splatters of blood on the patio when I came back from an errand. No one saw what happened, but I guessed probably a hawk did it.

It is a beautiful creature, but it is a predator. Yesterday when I was in the kitchen still working on the Thanksgiving dinner, two of my guests saw a red-tailed hawk landed on the patio right in front of their eyes. It took only a couple of seconds, failing to grab any victim and flew away. What a memorable moment!!! I just missed it...

Anna's Hummingbirds

2011-11-22T17:53:00.000-08:00

Rain, rain, rain.... Big drops of rain won't hinder little birds to come to my backyard where they are sure to find food during the cold winter months.

Every morning I see an Anna's Hummingbird. During the summer, I used to have one friendly Mama hummer who used to let me come near to take a closeup shot. Once when I stuck out my finger, it touched me with its beak!!! At the end of the summer, it showed up with two young ones.

Now the cold weather is back, I only see a couple of young ones: one male and one female.

Here, a pretty young male Anna's hummer.

This is a female with a bug at the corner of the mouth.

Purple Finch

2011-11-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

A Purple Finch comes to my backyard once in a while. Last year I noticed in the fall and again this year. Looking similar to the House Finch, a regular resident of the backyard, I often notice the differences on a computer screen.

#1 Difference: eyebrow (more showing in a male)

Next day, Mr. Purple Finch showed up at the same place. His wife might have told him to check on this new feeder.

#2 Difference: male color is deep pink (not pink or orange of House Finch)

On a sunny day after a week of rain, it decided to explore on the ground a little bit just like the other birds were doing.

And onto the fence where it was warm and comfy, it stayed there for a while before flying away.

Come back soon.

Golden-crowned Sparrows and Robin

2011-11-16T20:27:00.000-08:00

Golden-crowned sparrows come to my backyard in the spring and the fall. This fall, 3-4 of them are hanging around here before going to the coast to spend the winter. The other day I noticed a big fight between two males.

Watch out for the airborne attacker!!

(The one in the back is female.)

Karate Kick!!!

Back off for good!!

At another corner of the backyard, a robin is busy pulling out this LONG worm.
P-P-Pulling with his all might.

It was taking longer than usual....

At last, the worm is out. Robin swallowed it up in a wink.

It was a delicious lunch.

Northern Flicker and Varied Thrush

2011-11-12T19:37:00.000-08:00

The cold rain has returned after a plentiful harvest of summer berries. Since food has become scarse, Northern Flickers are busy picking on the suet in my backyard. Today five of them were flying around, chasing after one another.

One was flying like a bullet from a tall tree towards a hanging suet.

Another one waited for its turn to eat.

Not a frequent visitor, Varied Thrush, likes to find food here, too.

Hawk and Hummer

2011-11-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I heard crows making a lot of noise. Sure enough I spotted a red-tailed hawk being harassed by three crows.

After so much of it, the hawk was off to another hunting place.

Later I found a hummer trying out my new feeder now that all their favorite fushias and red flowers were gone with arrival of freezing temperatures.

Anna's hummingbirds are here all year long. Some of them let me come very close to take pictures.

Merlin (Falcon), female

2011-11-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

A new bird: a female Merlin was looking down on me, showing off her wings and tail on top of a nearby sequoia.

New Blog

2011-11-04T17:40:00.001-07:00

This is my new blog