Wisteria in Bloom

 My wisteria is in full bloom now.🌞

White-crowned Sparrow:  "I like your flower."

Bushtit:  "I prefer this suet."

Chestnut-backed Chickadee:  "Me, too."🤩

The Return of a Summer Bird

The weather is still rainy, but it is getting slowly warm.

"I am used to cold and rainy days."😉

About a week later than the usual date of return, the Rufous Hummingbird showed up at my backyard.  

"Oregon was cold lately, so I could not come earlier!. 

Your homemade sugar water is delicious."👍🎶

"You can see my bright head.👍😊

  (Taken through the double paned window. So it is not clear.)

 

Busy Backyard

 Many rainy days.  I can not go to the wetland, so I watch my backyard for bird visitors.

"We come here often," said one of the Bushtit flock.😉

"I see the frost on the ground," said one of the two Red-breasted Nuthatches.❄️⛄

"Ta, ta,... I have to take off quickly before another one of us shows up here."😁🎄

Bushtits Return

 When the weather gets cold, many Bushtits fly in a bunch.

"We are four."

"We are two."

"We are three."

"We will see you more often now."

Little Birds

 If you see a bunch of little birds floating around a feeder, they are Bushtits.  The first time when I saw them many years ago, I did not know what they were.  They looked  liked cotton balls floating in the air.

"We like to hang around together in the winter months; 

in the warm months, we will be with only a few."😁

Chestnut-backed Chickadee: "I come here during the cold months.  Sometimes 

I fly around with Bushtits for safety."👀👍

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: "I can fly with them to hide so that Juncos do not pick on me."😓🤩

Spring is Near

 So far it is getting warm.

"I like it.😊"

"I have not seen many ducks lately.   Are they leaving for north already?😯"

Buffleheads, male(left) and female(right):"We are still here.👀😊🦜"

Snow Storm

 For last 3 days, the icy storm hit our area.  The temperature on the patio was around 10 degrees F.

On the 2nd day of the storm, it warmed up only  to 20 degrees F during the day.  On the 3rd, we had another 10 degrees F in the morning and later became sunny with 20 degrees F.   It just stayed cold and below freezing all the time.

"This is the first storm this year😁."

😆

"We'd better nibble quickly before another chilly wind blast."

"I am back as usual.  I don't mind the snowy day.😎🤩"

On a Snowy Day

 On a snowy day,   many Oregon Juncos visit my backyard.

"I know where I can find my breakfast.👍👍😃"

"Me, too.  I can find my favorite suet here.💪😄😋"

Bushtits come in a big flock in winter.

"Munch, munch, this is the best suet in the neighborhood.😊😍😁"

The Backyard Friends

 I planted sunflowers late, so finally mine are in bloom.  Squirrels and birds have been waiting for the sunflower seeds.

The bushtits are back in a flock.  

"We are back to a backyard."

The Black-capped Chickadees are also back.

"Yeah, everyone is coming back here for winter."

A Crowded Bath

When the weather gets cold, Bushtits fly in a dozen or two at a time.  They come in like a grey cotton ball blown in by the wind.

"We are four right now.  But a lot more are coming in."

"We are taking a bath in the sun."

"Too crowded!"

Spring Scene

Daffodils are in bloom

Day is getting longer and brighter.

"I can clean my tail now."

Bushtits are still flying around in a big flock.

"Spring is here.  I can find bugs and leaf buds."

Food in the Snow Weather

This week more snow fell.   When snow was forecasted, I placed more food underneath the bird feeder so that the seeds were not covered with snow.

Northern Flicker:  "It's a relief to find food for breakfast 

early in the morning.  My friend, Bushtit, agrees with me.  Thanks a million."

House Finch, male:  "Thanks for the seeds.  I like your sunflower seeds."

Ruby-crowned Kinglet:  "Thanks for the suet.  I can always find it here."

American Goldfinch:  "I like your thistle seeds.  The Lesser Goldfinch told me about them."

Unexpected Snow

One day I saw yellow crocuses in bloom; next day I saw snow.  Last several days have been cold with many snow flurries.  Birds are tough despite of the freezing temperature.

"I have lots of down feathers."

"On a snowy day, I come straight here to eat the suet."

"We fly around in a big flock in winter and 

roost together to preserve the heat at night."

Snowy Days

This past week we had a few snowfalls.  I hope this coming week will be warm and rainy.

Both male and female Downy Woodpeckers visited here a few times to peck on the suet on cold days.

Little Bushtits came in a big flock to nibble their share.

Out of all the little birds here,  Oregon Juncos look best with snow.

"We love the cold temperature."

Sunny and Cold

A clear sky for a week  means to be very cold,  around 17 degrees F (15 degrees below the freezing).  But something good happens on a nice day:    

1)  A beautiful sunrise

2)  Cooper's Hawk perched at a nearby maple tree branch for a good snapshot.

3)  A Bushtit came and said hello.

"Hi, I like your suet."

Looking Like Cotton Balls

Bushtits fly around in a flock of a dozen or so in winter.  They stop over to eat the suet in my backyard.

After that, they will inspect the leaves nearby for a bug.

"I may still find a bug or so before
freezing.  An important protein source."

Then all of them jump into the cold bird bath to clean off the dust and dirt.

"The frequent cleaning is necessary to fly fast and light."

Nest Building Time

Last few days have been warm and birds are busy somewhere else.   With the above normal temperature, the honeysuckle began to bloom in the backyard.

A female Anna's Hummingbird showed up here to get spider's webs for her nest building.  Right on the neighbor's hedge, there are many webs shining in the morning sun.

"I have to get these spider webs.  The nest made

 of the web expands as my babies grow.  Here it is."

It's not just a hummingbird who is getting ready for rearing the next generation.  I saw a couple of Bushtits collecting the cotton that I scattered for their nest building needs.

"I need to use this fluffy thing for my nest building."