First Snow

For a week the morning temperature has been around freezing.  Even during the day, it only went up little.  So it snowed!

"I don't like snow.  It's hard to find food."

"I don't, either."

"I have to fill up my belly

quickly before it gets dark."

Bright Yellow in Winter

The day is getting shorter everyday till the winter equinox, Dec. 21.  This week it's been dark and rainy, a typical winter weather in Oregon.  In this darkness, there is something showing up.

"It's me.  My bright yellow tummy feathers keep me warm."

"I am Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle).  

I visit here in winter to nibble the suet."

"I am also a Yellow-rumped Warbler( Audubon).
 I am a male with the bright yellow chin."

Spring Time

Despite the chilly wind, the purple crocus began to bloom.

This winter I have not seen many Yellow-rumped Warblers as in the previous years.  This one is the only one I saw earlier this winter.   With the white spots on the head,  I identified it quite easily.

"I think I am an ugly duckling, different from

the majority of the pretty yellow-rumped"

Today I finally took a photo of another one.  Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler with the white front neck).

"Too much development around here.  That is why

I could not get here like before.  I still like your suet."

The First Snow of the Year

The big flakes of snow started falling early yesterday and continued on till noon.  Due to the below freezing temperature, the road surface is slick and the trees are coated with ice this morning.

"Not much food around, I'll try these dry, sour berries."

"I am strong.  No problem with the snow."

"It's a cinch.  After the suet, I can drink the snow for water."

Happy New Year!

This week has been very sunny.  After the long rain, everyone enjoys the dry weather although the blue sky plummets the temperature down.  Here are New Year's greetings just received from little birds from my backyard:

"I'm hopping into the New Year."

"Ready for the year of 2016!"

"Hooray!"

How to Jump in My Way

Winter birds like to eat the suet.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of them.  Instead of hanging onto the feeder, it often likes to jump and nibble.

"Let me show you my beautiful jump!"

"Then nibble a bit of chow."

"Here is another approach in case only a wee little bit is left."

"You need to try it."

The Bug Season

The beautiful spring morning:

The Yellow-rumped Warbler jumps  and twists in the air.  What is he/she doing?

"I just caught a bug."

"I like the spring time, 'cause many bugs begin hatching."

Welcoming the Horse Year

Happy New Year!  This is a Horse Year, written as　甲午年.  The zodiac has 12 animals.  Those who are born in the previous horse years are considered to be lucky ones this year.

Northern Flicker:  "I'm flying into the happy new year."

Anna's Hummingbird: "My favorite new feeder for the Horse Year."

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle):  "Happy New Year to you all!"

Threesome

This winter I see Yellow-rumped Warblers often.   The other day I saw three of them together busily munching the suet.

There are two types of Yellow-rumped Warblers:  Audubon's and Myrtle.

Audubon's Warbler has a yellow throat (except for a few immature females), whereas Myrtle Warbler has a white eyebrow.  See if you can identify the following birds.  It's fun.

A:  "Who am I?"

B:  "Who can I be?"

Answers:
A:  "I am a male Audubon's Warbler with the yellow throat and the yellow crown."

B:  "I am a female Myrtle Warbler with no yellow throat, but with the white eyebrow.  My brownish and less bright body indicates a female."

Territorial Dispute: How to Solve

Yellow-rumped Warblers (Myrtle Warbler) are very territorial.    They don't want anybody to come and feed at their feeding site.

I  happened to move the suet from under the apple tree to a new location under the patio, to help save the home-made suet from the European Starlings' raid.   The few little birds including the warblers quickly discovered the place.

Yellow-rumped (left) screamed, "I found it first.  Get out of here!!"
Oregon Junco snapped back, "I live here all the time.  I have more right to eat here."

Later, another Warbler showed up here.

Townsend Warbler said, "I just sneak in when the Yellow rumped is gone.  This way, less of hustle.  A smart way to go."

Yummy Suet for Winter

Last few days the fog blanketed all over the city and kept us cold all day long.  But even in the deep winter, I  could sense a soft, quiet breath of a Camellia bush in the backyard.

Already a bud is forming.

Out there, I heard, "chi...chi...chi..." with an intermittent silence.  Then I know who has arrived.

"It's me, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler).  These chunks of suet are scrumptious.  I need to swallow before the hungry Starlings raid here."

Return of Yellow-rumped Warbler

When all the deciduous trees have dropped the leaves, leaving the branches bare,  I can spot a winter bird easily.

Early this morning somebody familiar was jumping up from bare pear branches to catch bugs.  Oh yes, that is my winter friend coming back for my suet.

The suet is popular in the winter time.  A Northern Flicker was already on it.  Then Oregon juncos,  Red-breasted nuthatches, and Black-capped chickadees, they all like to get a little bite of it.   Being too crowded there, the yellow-rumped Warbler did not get a chance to try this suet today.

Maybe tomorrow, you can try it again.  I got another suet hanging in my backyard, so try the other one under the wisteria tree.