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."

Looking for Breakfast

Today is Christmas Eve.   With the fog hanging over the town through the night, Rudolph and the reindeer must be working hard in finding their way.

Because of this fog, it was very difficult for this young hawk to find his breakfast this morning.

"Darn!  Too thick fog.  Can't see much."

"I heard a tweety bird.  Maybe down inside this bush."

"Right next to the lavender bush!"

"No luck.  I'll have to check next door."

This young Cooper's Hawk was spending a long time to thoroughly inspect around the fence and inside the bushes, much longer than a hawk usually does.

A Big Bird

The other day was a little warmer, so I was out looking up at the sky.  From the corner of the sky, a big bird dashed out, flying high above me.

A seagull?  A heron?  With a powerful thrust of the wings, but with such an elegance.  Guess who?

"I'm just taking a short flight to appreciate the weather."

"As you might have noticed, I am a Bald Eagle, 

a protected bird, the symbol of this nation."

Winter Solstice

One more day for 12/21, Winter Solstice, when winter begins and the day begins to lengthen.  It is written as 冬至(winter arrival in Japanese and Chinese)、often referred to 一陽来復 (the sun returns in Chinese).

The other day the sky was clear and I was out bundled up behind the camouflage curtain out on the patio.  Although it was still a bit dark, a little Ruby-crowned Kinglet just arrived.

"Good morning.  I'm a bit early today."

"I'm very hungry."

"Peek-a-boo in the early dawn!"

Winter Food

After the freezing Alaskan front left, we now have foggy days.  The fog blankets all over the town with the cold and damp air.

The other morning, one American Robin landed on my backyard.  She wanted to peck on an old soggy apple.

"It's soggy, but in winter any fruit can taste very good."

This afternoon I noticed the robin back again and this time it found another food behind the dead zinnias stems.

"Yum, yum, yum.  I didn't know these berries were hidden here.  

I have to munch before another one of us finds to finish these."

In the U.S. these purple berries are called "Beauty Berries" and in Japan called "Murasaki(meaning purple) shikibu," name of the author who wrote Genji Tales in the ancient 10th century Japan.  What an interesting name for it!

Santa Is Back!

Every year, around this time of the year, Santa Bird returns to my place.


With that white beard, I'm sure he is the one.

"Ho, ho, ho, just arrived to check on the kid birds."

"No naughty kids?"

"Just making sure all the good kiddies get enough gift of seeds."

No Ruby Crown

For several days it has been very cold:  all day below the freezing.

This winter I have seen a Ruby-crowned Kinglet quite a few times.  Since it has not shown a ruby crown on its head, it must be a girl.

"Today is super cold, but I like the chilly air."

"It may be snowing anytime."

"See, I don't have the ruby crown.  I AM a girl."

How to Drink

For a couple of days, the temperature plummeted to 12F at night, and as a result, the hummer sugar water was hard frozen by the morning.

This Anna's Hummingbird was trying to drink from the hard frozen icicle.

"Nothing coming into my mouth.  

Something wrong with this new feeder?"

SOLUTION:  we decided to take in a couple of feeders at night when anticipating a freeze.  Before a hummer shows up in the morning (a little after 7:00 am  in Dec.), we take out a feeder ready for drinking.

"Slurp, slurp.....   I can drink for a long time.  Thanks a million."

Far Below Freezing

Yesterday I saw the north wind  pushing the clouds toward the south.   Consequently, starting today for a week, it will stay very cold with the below freezing temperature.  Anyone walking outside has a warm coat on with the collar high to avoid the chilly wind.  The sky is blue, and it will be tough to be out  for a while.

This morning I was out bundled up with a down coat to take a better photo without a window pane between.  There I found another bird who visits my backyard on a cold day.

"Hi, I've been here before.  I know there's 

enough to eat here on a cold day."

"Just down here, I saw my favorite suet hanging."

"I am happy to see it replenished after the squirrels

and European Starlings devour it all the time."

Oregon Junco with White Patches

Oregon Juncos enjoy the cold weather.  Every morning in winter, one to two dozens of Juncos come flying in to my place.  Once in a while, I have found a Junco with white patches.  This is called "leucism" which means reduced pigmentation.


In the middle of November, I encountered this cute Junco.

"Hi, I have many small white patches.  

Don't they make me look even prettier?"

Yesterday I saw this one with a lot more white on the head.

"I am quick and swift because I show up too

 much.  Thanks for your seeds."

Japanese Basil (Shiso)

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  Traditionally, we prepare a roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, other casseroles, veggies, and a pumpkin pie.  I have already baked a pie.  Casseroles are ready to be baked.  Today, the final prep is going on:  the turkey neck bone has been cooking for the stuffing before baking the turkey tomorrow.

Out in my veggie garden, birds are busy getting their breakfast in a cold morning.  I left a Japanese basil standing to see if the plant may return next summer.  The plant still has some dry seeds on.

Oregon Juncos discovered that they liked those seeds.

  "I think I like these."

 "Me, too.  It has a good flavor."

"I don't know if I like it or not.  

I'd rather stick to my regular seeds."

A Returnee in Winter

The other day as I looked through last year's photos, I made a prediction that I would see a Ruby-crowned Kinglet any time.

This morning I proved to be right!   Under the freezing temperature I was on lookout on the patio with a down coat, a pair of gloves and a hat. The rhododendron bush had hard frost sparkling in the sun.

The blue sky was out, but under the patio was still shaded and very cold.  I sensed a little something just zipped across.  When I looked in the direction it travelled to, aha, the long-awaited winter bird was hanging onto the suet feeder.

"I am a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  I'm not afraid of 

you.  Just hungry for your suet."

"A big bite.  Ummm, delicious."

After a quick visit, it took off to my neighbor's backyard.  Hoping to see you again very soon.

Sweet Sugar Water

After all the flowers are gone, hummingbirds are back to the sugar water regimen.

Even the only left-over flower does not have any more nectar inside.

"It's not sweet anymore.  Whether I really like it or 

not, I have to go back to the sugar juice.  No other choice."

Anna's Hummingbird, female:  "This sugar juice is not bad because 

the backyard owner changes the juice every 2 weeks."

Anna's Hummingbird, male:  "I have just tested it.  I can approve 

that  we can drink it during the cold months."

Cold Morning

After several days of rain, the sun returned but with the freezing temperature.


Under the patio roof, it registered even colder than the official weather forecast.

The left-over summer veggies (fennell and swiss chard) were all frosted.

A Chestnut-backed Chickadee flew in to have some water.

"What!  Hard freeze! Can't have any drink yet."

A good friend needs to broadcast the situation loud and clear.

"No drinking water here.  Wait until the ice melts."

Crowded Bird Bath

Today the sun came out on and off.  During the cold months, I keep only one of the bird baths out to minimize possible damage by frozen water.  So the bath gets crowded in a sunny afternoon.

First, a big SPLASH!  Who did it?  Guessed it?

Right (Golden-crowned Sparrow):  "I am the biggest splash maker."

Left (House Finch):  "Not true.  I AM the biggest splash maker."

House Finch, female:  "Hello, dear.  You've had enough.  

Get out to dry off before the sun goes out."

Purple Beautyberries

For last couple of weeks one Song Sparrow has visited my backyard.

"The morning sun is welcome.  Clean drinking water is here."

"On a sunny day, water is fun to play in."

It's been a few years since I planted this Beautyberry bush, but no one has ever tried these pretty purple berries till today.

"Bittersweet!  I like it once in a while."

When I checked it out later, I learned that birds consume these bittersweet berries when other food sources are exhausted.  No wonder they have taken some time before trying it out in winter.

Standing Tall

It's been a week since the Day Light Saving Time here ended.  Night is long and  gets longer thru Dec. 21.

Lately a few female Northern Flickers fly in to eat the suet in the morning. But not a male one until today.

"Nice to see you again.  Missed me?  Do I look so handsome?"

"I am standing tall.  Looking even better."

"Yummy bugs are known to be around
a pine tree root.  Wish me luck."