A Large Flock of Migrant White-crowned Sparrows

On the way to Eastern Washington, we stopped at Pendleton, Oregon (in Eastern Oregon).  The next day, early in the morning I walked around the hotel which was surrounded by the grass fields.  Then,  I saw a few little birds, which turned out to be a large flock of migrant White-crowned Sparrows.  There could have been thirty to forty altogether, finding seeds for their breakfast in the bushy area.

" The sun is up.  Today will be a

super day, my friends."

"More seeds out there.  I'm off."

 

 

"There's plenty of food around here. 

I'd rather warm up in the sun before eating."

 

 

Although some White-crowned Sparrows are residents along the Pacific Coast and inland Oregon, many of them are late spring and early fall migrants.  So probably this flock was on the way to Alaska and Canada to spend their summer.

A New Hummer

Last several days I was travelling in Eastern Washington.  On the way, we made some stops, one of which was to visit a Hummingbird Crossing.   In Eastern Washington, I can expect to find two kinds of hummers that I cannot find in Western Oregon.

I was lucky to see one of them:  Calliope Hummingbird, male

"I am the smallest North American bird. 

I come here through the Rocky Mountains from

Mexico in summer.  I like to hang

around in mountains."

 

The other kind is Black-chinned Hummingbird.   Because this spring has been cold, I did not see this one.   I was told in a few weeks they should be arriving.

Big Fans of Blueberry Flowers

Summer is coming slowly, but steadily.  And my blueberry flowers are now in bloom.  Many birds enjoy drinking the nectar.  Anna's Hummingbird is one of them.

"Ummm good, this is my blueberry."

Summer birds, too, are lured here by the sweet nectar of the flowers.  The other day, I found one Orange-crowned Warbler secretly drinking the juice the first time this spring.

"I'm supposed to be hidden."

Bees also smelled the sweet scent in the air, appeared out of nowhere and buzzed busily on the bush.

"Buzz....z......z........."

A Sad News

Who's done it??? 

Yesterday afternoon when I returned home from an errand, I peeked at the nest from the distance as usual.  But I couldn't see it, so I went close.   Then I found that the next box with the nest on top was tipped over to sideways, the inside eggs fallen and broken on the ground and the mother Robin nowhere to be seen.

We checked the nest and found out one little egg remaining stuck on the bottom of the nest, but is now no good due to the mother's warmth taken away.  We moved the nest box to a safer position in case the mother bird might later reuse it the next time.

Raising a young is not an easy task, indeed.  They have to overcome all types of dangers and predators such as a cat, a raccoon, a hawk, a snake, sometimes a human, etc....


Today I saw two Robins hunting on my veggie patch as usual despite the tragedy.

"Don't worry.  I will lay more eggs later.  When I train
them on flight, I will bring them for you to see."

Robin: Incubation

Early in the morning when the sunny spots are getting warm, I found one Robin singing and scratching at the same time. 

"I'm a busy beaver right now.  Need to handle

two things at one time."

Later, around the corner and on the opposite end of my house, I noticed a Robin mom was on the nest, warming up the eggs.  The nest area is dark and hidden. 

The photo taken with a high

ISO to show the bird.

Robin's eggs are blue without markings and take 12-14 days to hatch.  Both female and male feed the young. 

Bushtit: Dance, Dance

For a week or two, it's been cold again.  Between rain and shine, it gets warm temporarily like magic.  Birds appreciate it.

One windy afternoon when I was looking up the sky, a couple of Bushtits flew in.

They landed on a nearby blueberry bush.

"Look at my pointed hairdo.  Now I look
like a Wood-Pewee.  Today is windy, but the sunny spot
on this little branch is nice and cozy ."

"Flip, flap....  I feel like dancing now."

On an apple tree branch, a female Bushtit agreed.

"So do I." 

Bewick's Wren's Song

Although I do not know exactly where, the Bewick's Wren lives nearby all  year long.  The other day, early in the morning, I heard his short springtime song.

 

 

Then he flew in close to me.

"In spring, I get so hungry that I come to the patio

looking for the suet.  See this big chunk of suet.  

I am convinced that this is home-made."

 

"I'm not afraid of you.  I'll let you take a close-up."

Scrub-Jay's Nest Building

In spring, all birds are busy with the nest building.  Today I saw a Scrub-Jay stealing more nest materials from my planter.

He first had to show it to his wife for an approval.

"Are these good enough?"

"Nice and soft.  I like them."

 

 

 

 

Robin's Nest

Last night our neighbor called and gave us a surprise news.  He saw a Robin's nest on top of an empty nest box  next to our garage. 

Today I saw a Robin on it earlier, still needing more work to complete.    As long as we stay away from the area, she will use it pretty soon.

Meantime, since the American Robin uses mud to line the nest, he/she often looks messy in front and needs to get clean in a birdbath.

"I'm glad my backyard owner changes the bath

water everyday.  I like to use a clean water. 
Thank you for keeping up with me."

Pesticide Free Zone

My backyard is a pesticide free zone so that birds can feed insects to raise their young without problems.  In return they consequentially provide me a pest free backyard.  It's a WIN-WIN situation!!!


At this time, the spring nest building is going on at or near my backyard.  Look what this female House Finch is doing.

"I am collecting nest materials.  These

strings will do a fine job for me."

"I think I can use these planter

materials.  Let's pull them out."

"Having worked so hard on a nest, I am

hungry for pear blossoms."

"Me, too.  These apple leaf buds are luscious."

Anna's Busy Morning

For a few weeks, I have not seen Anna's Hummingbird much.  She has been busy with building a nest, then incubating the eggs, and now feeding the young ones. 

This morning I spotted her up on top of the neighbor's maple tree which is almost opening up the new leaves.

On a maple tree

"Oh boy, oh boy....  I've been so busy with feeding the babies.  I have to collect insects around the sweet new leaves."

Yamabuki (Mountain Glow)

"On these yellow flowers, I maybe able to suck the flower nectar."

New leaves on a rose bush

"Let's check these new rose leaves for little bugs.  I'll be back for your sugar water when I get time...."

Robin

Over the Easter Weekend, the temperature shot up to 76 degrees here just like in the summer.  In the front yard, my hanging cherry is now in bloom.

So with the bleeding hearts in the backyard.

People get up early in the summer time.  So with the American Robin, who I can hear outside before the sunrise.

During the warm months, he/she often visits my backyard to pick up worms and likes to splash water in the birdbath.  On this picture though, he was just checking the bath water temperature.

"Um, um, still a bit cold for me...."