Rare Visitors to My Backyard

The other day I saw many birds flying into my backyard.

Here's one of them:   Cedar Waxwing.

"I just saw European Starlings flying around, so 

I stopped over to see what's going on👀."

Surprisingly, a female Western Tanger also showed up here in the midst of all the commotion here😍.

"Me, too👀.   I usually stay in the high canopy."

Lately, an American Crow come here.  Because on the ground they like to eat the suet crumbs that a squirrel have dropped earlier😀.

"No problem.  We like to clean them all up☝☝.  They are delicious😋."

Return to South

 More summer birds are passing by here on the way to south.  

I saw this bird perched on a branch where not many birds do, so I took a photo.  Sure enough it turned out to be  a Dusky Flycatcher.  Last fall I found one stopping by.

"Hi, I remember your backyard."

In spring, I saw Wilson's Warbler a few times and on the return to south he again stopped over.  

"Hi, I am back, hungry for your bugs."

A rare visitor:   A 1st year Western Tanager,  who is a bit bigger than a House Finch and House Sparrow.  They all wanted to take a bath at the same time.

"I am new here and hope to return next year."

Hidden behind the Leaves

In the Coastal Mountain Range, there are many summer birds spending the summer thru the early fall in Oregon.

A long time ago, a male Western Tanager visited my backyard.  But since then, I have not seen one.  Here in the woods, I revisited with another one behind the leaves.

"I like to be hidden behind the leaves."

Nearby was a female.

"You can look at me.  I don't have the bright red head. 

We make a nest in this woods during the summer months. 

It is warm, but cool and safe here."

Who's singing?

Where's the bird?

Who's singing?

Western Tanager (summer bird here):  "It's me.  I like to sing in the upper canopy, hiding from you!"

Black-headed Grosbeak (summer bird here):  "No, no, no.  Me.  I am a good singer from the south."

American Robin (regular resident here):  "Listen, everyone.   Here in Oregon, that song belongs to me all the time."


Backyard Owner:  "I am confused.  Who could be singing like that?"


A couple of bird books say their songs are similar.  In winter, I know the song belongs to American Robin, but in summer, I can be sure only when seeing whoever is singing. 

Here is another reason to keep bird-watching.

A Long Waited Western Tanager

Yesterday afternoon when I looked out between the camouflage curtains, WOW, I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES.



A male Western Tanager, which I have longed to see for sometime, just landed on the wisteria vines.

And then onto the neighbor's hedge to check on the bug availability.
Their main staple is insects such as bees, wasps, grasshoppers, etc.  They also eat fruits.

"Umm... there are some little bugs inside the hedges."

"I'm in a rush.   Now I need to fly to the fruit trees."

I hope you will come back for my blueberries, pears, plums, and apples.

"Yeah, I will consider that option."

In the past, I have seen a female Tanager a couple of times in the backyard.  But a super gorgeous male Western Tanager is my first time to see!!!  He just returned to Oregon after spending the warm winter in Mexico or Central America.   Welcome back to Oregon.  I hope to see you often from now on.