Frequent Visitor Now

In the previous years I saw a Varied Thrush once or twice a year at most.  Last year I did not see them at all.  I was sad to find in one of the local bird newsletters that the Varied Thrush was on a decline lately.

This spring a good news was here in my backyard.  An increased sighting of Varied Thrush!  For the last several days, a couple came and stayed busy underneath the Camellia bush uncovering the dead leaves to find worms.  One time the female came to my patio to eat the fallen suet chunks.

"I am very careful and walk very fast on the lawn.  

I am a female because of the fading chest band"

Despite their preference to stay in the shady areas or corners, a male Varied Thrush went up to the fence to have a better view of the backyard,  and probably to see me inside the house.

"Um, it's a good view.  I can see better.  

I am a male because I have the dark chest band."

Empty Garden

With the spring weather, backyard birds are totally tired with the dry seeds and suet.  They are out in the fields instead trying to catch bugs and everything else other than the dry seeds!

But once in a while someone shows up here out of their habit.  When I was out on the back patio yesterday afternoon when I returned from my errand, a little Ruby-crowned Kinglet stopped over and came so close to me to eat the fallen suet.

"Yum, yum, the suet is my favorite."

"Why do you look at me with the big black eye ball (camera)?"

Backyard Owner:  "I just love to take your cute photos, standing close to you.  Thanks for being nice to me."

Spring Buds

The weather is unstable:  rain, clouds, showers, and the sun.  When the sun was temporarily out in the morning, birds flew in for a quick breakfast.

A Black-capped Chickadee, too, likes to munch on a new leaf bud.

"This is a maple leaf bud.  It is so-o-o tender!"

"I found another one down there."

Spring Is Near.

After the snowfalls, the temperature has been a little warmer than usual.  So the spring crocus is getting ready to bloom.

A House Finch enjoys eating the leaf buds.

"A taste of spring.  New plum tree leaf buds taste scrumptious."

Spring is the nesting season.

"May I use this string for building my nest?"

Returnee

For last few days, it's been white all around.  Not many birds have visited here.  Is it because the white ground makes them more visible and vulnerable?  Or because many little bugs hatched when the temperature began to warm up?

During the snowfalls, the bird bath in the backyard accumulated a huge amount of snow.

Now it rained and has melted 2/3 of the snow on the bird bath.  The snow on the street is piled on both sides.

This evening I saw more birds returning to the backyard for evening meals.  Several robins stopped by to find worms in the exposed wet lawn.  Together with the robins, a Varied Thrush flew in for the first time this winter.

 "I like to fly around with robins, who are similar in looks."

"Umm....  I know I've been here before.  My robin friend 

told me there are lots of seeds and worms here."

Ice

After three snowfalls, we still have enough snow left on the ground.  The cars parked on the street are covered under the snow.  It'll take a few days to melt away.

The last snow was mixed with ice and all the branches are iced and slippery.

"Look at these shiny branches.  I have to grab on the branch." 

Yesterday the old apple tree branches were heavy with the ice.  No wonder many birds stayed at home for safety.

Today it is a little warmer and the snow is melting some on busy streets.  Many schools are still closed.

Snow

Yesterday was the first snow day for the year of the Horse.  For a couple of days,  it's been below freezing.  Around noon,  the snow arrived here and continued through the evening.  The area south of here received more snow and the highways were snarled due to traffic accidents.  By this morning, we had 7-10 inches of snow outside.  Schools are closed.

"I am not used to it, but I'll be very careful."

"It hides my food.  I hope it will melt soon."

"I puffed up my down feathers to keep me warm."

"What?  I just love the snow.  I am a winter bird."

Nature's Rule

A cold-blooded murderer!  I thought when I witnessed early this morning, but it is only a Nature's rule.

Around 7:40 AM in the Pacific Time (still somewhat dark) it happened.  One bird was drinking at the bird bath by itself.  No one else was around.  Too early in the morning.  Near freezing, the bath water was mostly frozen but a little bit around the corner,  where the bird was drinking for an unusually long time.  It must have been very thirsty or somewhat ill.  I started worrying about a possibility of a predator.  But bushes and hedges are nearby for safety....

At that very moment, out of the left corner of my vision, a meter above the ground, a hawk dashed straight into the bird, nailed it, and flew off in no more than a second!!!  The remaining was a couple of blood stains on the edge of the bath, nothing else.  Wham.....


Victim:  a House Finch, male and probably old

"I am not the victim.  But I will keep it in mind to 

stay alert and do not stay at the bath too long."

Predator:  Cooper's Hawk

"I need to eat, you know.  I do not waste my food 

and appreciate food every bit of it."

Witness:  Backyard Owner

"Yes, I understand.  Nature has to be kept in balance,

 including the population of all the living things."