Spring Melody

Early in the spring morning, even before the dawn, a bird begins to sing.

It's the best time to listen to birds.   Since it is dark, they don't have to worry about being spotted by predators.  

The above song was by a Mr. House Finch.

If you enjoy bird watching, why not get up a bit early and go out to the backyard just to listen to the birds.  Outside you will have a fascinating discovery of bird songs.

A different melody you may have noticed here.

The #2 singer was a Mr. Lesser goldfinch.

Up on the neighbor's tree, I heard a Mourning Dove cooing.  But as soon as I peeked through the camera lens underneath him, he stopped.  See, his throat was ready to coo, but he just did not want to until I disappeared from his view.

I hope you will enjoy a bird song this season. 

Girls Festival Day (Japanese Festival) 雛祭

March 3rd is Girls Festival Day in Japan.  In the spring time, they take out Girls Festival Dolls once a year to appreciate a happy life and wish for a healthy life for their daughters.

I still keep some gifts from Japan including the dolls (mine is a simple one):

The king and the queen sit on the platform decorated with fancy patterned silk fabric, the gold colored back partition brightened with lanterns.

Because of the warm spring temperature, the first honey bee was sighted in my front yard.

In the backyard, birds appreciated the warm temperature, too.  Someone was just about conking out.

Can you guess who it was?

"I am a Pine Siskin.  I  come here everyday during the winter months.  Today I was so cozy that I just dozed off a second.  I could have fallen off the fence!"

On a warm, sunny day, a Townsend's Warbler often shows up.  He quickly and busily pecked the suet and off he went in a matter of seconds.  What an attractive fellow!

This evening was so nice that I even brushed out the gummy bottom of the birdbath.  Birdies will appreciate the clean water tomorrow morning.   According to an American Crow forecaster, we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.

Breath of Spring

As the weather forecaster predicted, it did snow around here yesterday and today.  A thin layer of snow blanketed all over the backyard. 

Yet, you can tell spring is coming near in the newly spouted rose leaves.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler can see spring flowers (daffodils) about to bloom.

Already in the spring mood, someone was taking a dive in the bath.  Who?

"It's me," says a House Sparrow girl, "because the snow was gone and I was feeling itchy all over today!"

She came back twice for a good thorough bath.

All my crocuses are in bloom.  We are ready for spring.

Snow tonight?

It has been cold, back to the winter again.  Sensing the cold pressure with wind and rain, birdies know it might snow.  That is why they are busy all day eating as much when they can.

Chickadees are busy with sunflower seeds.  They come in twos or threes sometimes.

This morning the water in the birdbath was frozen; Pine Siskins can only lick the ice or walk on it.

Later in the afternoon, the two brothers are shouting,"You need to have our permission to join!"  (See the blurry one just flying in.)

On the wet lawn, a pair of Lesser Goldfinches were trying to eat new and tender dandelion leaves.

In the sun which comes out once in a while, a Yellow-rumped Warbler looks like a prince.  He just finished eating the suet.

A male Lesser Goldfinch deserves much attention to that bright color.  He likes to eat thistle seeds together with Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches.

I hope everyone got enough to eat today before the cold front comes in tonight.

What a Day!

Today we had all kinds of weather from sunny to cloudy, rainy, and sleet.   The temperature went down to freezing and it has been cold now.

When the weather is miserable, birds have miserable time in finding food unless they know such a good place as my backyard.

See, it is very crowded here.   Today at the most swarmed time, I could count more than 30 Pine Siskins, 8 American Goldfinches, 4 Lesser Goldfinches, more than a dozen Oregon Juncos, several Chickadees, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, and two Nuthatches.   

And one more....
A beautiful, yet formidable Cooper's Hawk who also needs food to survive through a wet western Oregon winter.  He flies around, checking at each bird feeder in the neighborhood.   No catch today and soon flew away to another location.

When the sun was out, it was so sunny and warm.  A Junco male was hiding from me with a branch right in front.

A Northern Flicker came to the suet as usual.   Even when I was out on the patio with a camera, it still came down and began eating.  She now knows that I am a safe person who provides them with food.

Another one who is becoming more brave is a Pine Siskin.  As long as I stay away, it does not fly away and still keeps on eating on a thistle seed bag hanging on the patio. 

Do you know what my wish is?  Someday, some bird will come to me and start eating from my palm. 

Purple Crocus and House Finch

Today I found several purple crocuses already in bloom in my front yard.

In the backyard, I happened to eavesdrop a pair of House Finches.

Mr. Finch:  " These sunflower seeds are scrumptious.  Try one."

Mrs. Finch:  "I already have one in my mouth."

Mrs. Finch:  "Hey, don't steal mine.  Get one yourself!"

The photo sequence is actual.  I think they really talked that way.  Don't you agree?!

Yellow Crocus

A yellow crocus sends us a message: "Spring has sprung."

In spring,  birds are busy singing and hanging around in pairs.  One day three Black-capped Chickadees were busy getting their breakfast.

Once in a while a Cooper's Hawk flies through the air in my backyard  and perches on the fence for food.  Thanks to the hedge rows and bushes for little birds to jump in and hide, there is not many casualties here.

An Eastern Towhee usually stops over for a quick breakfast.

These days Yellow-rumped Warblers live here and eat the suet all day long.  A few days ago, I saw three of them together: two males and one female.

Today, when I looked up with a crow's calling, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk soaring high. 

Regarding the Anna's Hummer, I need to update.  The other day my Anna's returned to the sugar water feeder finally after 3 weeks.  Now it just comes once in a while, not daily yet.

The spring season is a busy one for me, too.  

1)  Need to add peatmoss to my blueberry bushes (I did not do this for a couple of years; maybe that is why I did not get so many berries). 

2)  Like to add a new bush or two for birds and hummers.  

3)  In a few weeks, trim the roses to half the height.

And so on...

I bet a busy season is waiting for you, too.