More Summer Birds

When you look up in the sky in the morning or evening this month, you may have noticed many swifts flying around.  They are Vaux's Swifts, a summer bird in Oregon. 

 

As their name indicates, they are really a speedy bird.

 

 

Here he comes.  He/she is so fast that my camera lens can't focus well.

 

 

Today another summer friend just arrived here in my backyard.

 

"I am a Vesper Sparrow.  I just flown in all the way from Mexico. 

I have a white eye ring and white outer tail feathers."

 

 

"Also, I have pretty streaking front.  Don't mix me up

with an Oregon Junco as my Backyard owner did."

 

 

 

 

 

More Black-headed Grosbeak

The other day I found a birding tip in a seasonal magazine from Nature Conservancy. 

 

In it, there is an article called "the Birding Effect," a story about Tom Boucher, a birder/conservationist.  He recommends the best birding time to be overcast, no wind, and no rain.  Also he adds NO TALK.  Even a human voice at the level used inside the library reduces a bird sighting by more than 30%.  So I keep this important message in my mind.

 

A couple of weeks ago, a Black-headed Grosbeak came to my feeders several times during that day.  At the end of the day, unintentionally I scared him away with a loud shutter sound of my camera. 

After that, I longed to see more of them.  Finally my wish was answered:  another one stopped over.

"I think I've been here before.  I can find

a lot of black oil sunflower seeds here."

He comes to a feeder right underneath the patio roof, too. 

"Did you notice this? 

My eyelashes are rather cute."

" I've been here for a few days already. 

I'm fattening up before a trip to the north."

More Goldfinches

Rain, rain, rain.  And more rain is expected... over this Memorial Day weekend.   I hope campers in the mountains can stay warm if they decide to go there.

My yellow honeysuckle began to bloom in spite of the cold rain.

One viewer of my blog asked me where I took photos of the goldfinches earlier this month.  It was in my backyard in Northwestern Oregon.  According to my bird book, "Birds of Oregon," goldfinches live in Oregon all the year round, although some in flocks of 20 or so move around North America.

To invite goldfinches to your backyard, stock up your feeders with their favorites such as thistle seeds and black oil sunflower seeds.   They may show up at your place before you knew it.

Today was such a day for them to show up after cold rainy days.

"Female goldfinches love my bright summer color."

"I am his girl."

 

 

 

Potato Flowers

Rains and wind again.  For several days much below average temperatures....  Cold.  But my garden veggies are growing.  My potato plant now has flowers.

Between rain showers, the sun came out for a short time.

A white butterfly flew in to savor the flavor.

A female Anna's Hummer also made a brief visit while probably incubating her eggs somewhere.

"The fresh nectar from miniature petunia is delightful."

A Busy Mom with Kids

For birds, Spring is the busiest time of the year.  They have to migrate, build a nest, and raise the young.

European Starlings live around here all the year round without migration.  I don't know where their nest is.  but the other day one Starling mom brought her youngs here to feed with my hand-made suet.

"Mom, we are hungry.  More food, please."

"My mom told me to behave while she is gone.   

I hope she can find more food for me."

Wilson's Warbler - the first time photo

Yesterday I saw a Wilson's Warbler, a summer bird, under the pear trees.  Last year I could not take a good photo due to the dark bush under the trees.  This time I took a little better photo. 

"Hi, I like to look for bugs in the bush."

"Can you see my black cap?  I am a male

Wilson's Warbler.  My all-insect diet makes

me one of the top insect-eating birds in Oregon."

 

 

Goldfinches

Lately it has been wet.  The water loving iris is just as happy as can be.

 

 

 

American Goldfinches stop over once in a while.

His summer coat is now bright yellow.

 

A big mooch to a handsome guy.

 "Your thistle seeds are scrumptious."