Busy at Breakfast

Last weekend there was an air show at a nearby airport.  A loud jet noise excited a Scrub-Jay, a Northern Flicker, etc.   They did not like those disturbances in the air.

Meanwhile people were thrilled to see those aerodynamic stunts. 

At a bird spot in the coastal mountain range, for the first time,  I saw a Warbling Vireo. 

Gray above; white underparts. White eyebrow; brown eye.  A common vireo in the western states is a summer bird in Oregon.  They spend the winter months in warm Mexico and Central America.

Now this one found a breakfast.

"Yum, yum, a tasty spider."


 

Picture Perfect

This summer we have been to new bird spots.  One of the newest places we found is in the Oregon Coast Mountain Range.  Near a little stream, there is a paved walkway for bird watchers. 

There we heard a Great Blue Heron squawking loud nearby.  Many little birds were flying around getting the early breakfast.  The best thing one can do for birdwatching is to stay still around the corner so as not to scare birds away.  Pretty soon a yellow bird got enough nerve to hop onto a branch near me.

Let me introduce to you this bright individual:

 

"Hi, I live here in the woods only in summer. 

I am a male Wilson's Warbler.  I just wanted

 to show off my eye-catching yellow coat."

A Mouthful of Blueberries

At my backyard, the blueberries are almost done.  I have eaten enough fresh berries, while I froze most of them.  During the winter months, we can use these for pancakes and oatmeal at breakfast.

Meanwhile in summer, someone else really likes the berries.

"I can't talk with the mouthful of blueberries."

Young Ones #3

This year more young ones seem to come over with their parents to learn about finding food at my backyard.  The other day I found two more families practicing their training.


Northern Flicker's mom is busy digging into the ground, probably trying to find ants?

"Hard to find ants here.  Dig, dig..."

"Finally, here you are."

Little Black-capped Chickadee is waiting for mom to feed, too.

"Ready for more food, Mom."

"Did you see my Mom is so nice? 

I'll wait some more now."

A Battle

Hummingbirds are territorial.   With their wee little body, they need a big domain to fly around.   I see other birds such as House Sparrows, House Finches,  etc. come and share the feeding grounds without any problems.  But when it comes to a hummer, it matters very much.

Today was such a day for a serious battle when two hummers ended up coming to the same feeding ground at the same time.

Anna's (Left):  "This is my place!!"
Rufous (Right):  "So what!"


A battle began....

Anna:  Her neck is fluffed up, threatening the enemy.
Rufous:  Spreading the tail feathers, intimidating the other.


Both are supersonic flyers....

They left here, one chasing the other into another space.



But when they are by themselves, they are very courteous, even letting me take a fancy photo if the light is coming at the right angle.

Anna:  "Delicious nectar."

Rufous:  "My favorite flower and me."

A Big Bird

At the wetland, it was unfortunately cloudy in the morning when we went.  After we spent an hour walking along the country road, a threesome of Great Blue Herons suddenly swooped down from the sky.

They first circled over the wetland a few times right above us.

Then one after another they decided to land in the marsh below.  After walking about, one decided to make a quick hop to another spot.

"Swish."

 

 

And landed onto another spot to find more food.

 

"Just a gentle touching."

A Long Awaited

Yesterday we went to another wetland,  where I,  after a few years,  finally succeeded in taking a photo of the Common Yellowthroat.  They are a summer bird in Oregon which come from Mexico and Central America where they spend winter.

"Welcome to my summer home in the open field/marsh. 

I like to eat and feed my babies with insects

all the time.  So this place is ideal for my family."

"Crunch, crunch.....  Um,m....good. 

Scrumptious little dragonfly."

A Sleepy Time

After a few weeks of absence, a Bewick's Wren returned to my backyard.


On the fence near the blueberries bush, he was safe and comfy.

Soon, he was ready to take a cat nap for a few seconds.

"I just get so-o-o..... sleepy in the afternoon after

 my lunch of bugs and suet here.  Can't keep my eyes open."

Young Ones #2

The real summer weather is here to stay for a while.  Everyone is enjoying the summer.  My lavenders are almost done.  So with blueberries.  I let the birds finish up my remaining berries.  The other day I saw a male American Robin that flew in together with a young one.

"I'm teaching my kid to have a balanced diet. 

Both worms and blueberries are available here. 

My favorite is your blueberries."

The juvenile has its front heavily spotted with brown like this.

"Today I'm just watching and not

so interested in berries."

Even in summer, some birds like to eat the suet, so I make mine from scratch.  After a long while, a juvenile Chestnut-backed Chickadee was back,  munching the suet.

"I don't have to fly with my parents any

more.  I'm almost grown up and independent."

"See, I can eat any way I want."

Summer Flowers #4

A sunflower is the summer flower looking like a bright shining sun.  Every summer I grow sunflowers for birds to eat the seeds in the fall.

 

 

 

 

Lavenders attract bees with the fragrance.   Every summer I dry lavender flowers for potpourri; I weave lavender wands for gifts.

Cotton Candy Hyssop

 Threadleaf Giant Hyssop

 

"Yum, yum, yum...."



Fresh Seeds Now Available at the Wetland

Back to last week's wetland scenes...

Early in the morning, birds are busy at their breakfast table.  A male Redwing Blackbird is found yodelling a pretty song.

Next to the reservoir, a female Redwing Blackbird was munching on weed seeds.

American Goldfinches are crazy about thistle seeds, just fresh on the stalk.

"Um, um, good...."

Young Ones

Summer is a busy season for rearing the young.  In my backyard, I see quite a few young birds just born this summer.


The other day several young Western Scrub-Jays were fussing around the big fir tree.   Right in the middle of the circling birds, guess what I found.

"Naughty Scrub-jays are bugging me. 

I am only a month old(?), so help me 

to get rid of these noisy birds."

A couple of House Sparrow families live around here.   They are one of the early risers.   This young one came to eat seeds and suet with her dad.

"I was born this summer, too. 

See I still have the yellowish corner

on the mouth."

Here is a young Scrub-Jay who has mastered bathing.

"It's fun to take a bath."

Fallen and Injured?

Yesterday we went to the nearby wetland again.  In the midst of the real summer, many birds have left here for the cooler mountain side except a few kinds.

While walking along the pond, I came across a strange scene.  What's going on here?  A dead bird?

A Killdeer fallen on a trail?  They like to nest on open ground, usually on gravel.  That is why when anyone approaches their nest, they put on a "broken wing" show to lure predators away from the nest area.

"Come over and look at me. 

(Don't you ever get into the

bushy area where my nest is)."

"Hurry up.  Come on."

After we started following her, she stood up and walked away.


Just to make sure everyone knows how a Killdeer normally looks like.  Here it is.  He/she likes to hang around grassy fields and on shores.

Summer Flowers #3

The real heat finally arrived here in Oregon.   It has been in 90's and my veggies are growing better. 

More summer flowers are in bloom. 


Bee Balms

"I've been looking for this for a long while."

Crocosmia

"It's so bright in the burning setting sun. 

But nonetheless, it is so tasty."

Lesson #103

Lately young Western Scrub Jays have been here.  They have learned to fly down to my pine tree.  Also they now can find food themselves, even though they prefer to be fed sometimes.

And finally they are learning to make splashes in the bird bath.

"I think I can do this...."

"Just do it.  See I can."

"Mom, I did it!"

"Now, I'm grown up."