Monday, March 30, 2020

Spring Birds

Returning and more active birds are undoubtedly the biggest sign of spring for me.  We had very few birds visit our feeders through the winter, right into early March, but since then they've been quite active and a few new ones have appeared, back from the warmer south.

Robins are the most important harbinger of spring for me; this one seems to like the top of this stump, sitting there several times. 

Turkey Vultures are rapidly joining Robins as the earliest returning migrants we see in the spring.  This is an old picture, but we saw one ten days ago, and have seen them soaring over the neighbourhood several times since.  Don't forget the Sand hill Cranes and Tundra Swans we saw on our drive to Barrie either.  And a friends reported a Great Blue Heron yesterday.

The Goldfinch and Chickadees have been hear all winter, but they're certainly more frequent and active now.  And the Goldfinch are turning into their summer yellow plumage.

How's this for the hind end of a Red-breasted Nuthatch?

And this for a distant silhouette of a Cardinal up high in a tree.  We've hardly seen them all winter, but now they're singing like mad around every corner in the neighbourhood!

The Crows are much more active, flying past frequently.  I suspect a pair is nesting in the tall Scots Pines across the golf course.

Dark-eyed Juncos have appeared finally.  We usually see them in the winter, but not this year.  They only re-appeared ten days ago.  They will disappear again soon, flying north to nest.

A small flock of Starling has been flying around, and landing to forage out on the golf course.  We've seen Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds in the yard too.

This is my fsvourite.  I have two dozen pictures of this fellow, mostly twisted around behind the bird feeder.  But in this one he turned and looked straight at me.

19 comments:

  1. Nice to have some birds visiting when we're not allowed to have the human kind. Our Nuthatches are similarly uncooperative, perpetually offering their least attractive end for inspection!

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  2. I sure do like to watch the birds around here, too. Your goldfinch, nuthatch and chickadee pictures could have been taken right here! And I too like that last shot. :-)

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  3. Many of these species that you post stay here in our yard year round. I am sure they thrill you after a long and cold winter. They are fun to watch as they mate, fight and eat.

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  4. I'd love to have a feeder here at the condo right now but there's no place to hang one. When my mother was here we had one on the table but it was so messy you couldn't use the deck to get outside. It was fine then when I was caring for her, but now it's more important to have a place to get out on nice days. Can you still get out in your yard? - Margy

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  5. I saw few birds this winter compared to normal - it was quite a weird season for birds. Yesterday afternoon while out on the roof deck 2 Red-tailed Hawks flew overhead only about 20 ft above us. It was quite an experience!

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  6. HI furry...
    I have the same birds here...except no Finches yet...hopefully soon!!
    Glad you are staying occupied...I am a crochet machine right now!! haha!!
    Stay safe!!

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  7. We had few birds at the feeders earlier, but now they're emptying the feeders rapidly -- they've run out of wild foods by this time of year and fresh foods and insects aren't readily available.

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  8. Hello, you have a nice variety of yard birds. Since, we are on lockdown watching the birds will be a favorite activity. Take care, stay well! Wishing you a happy and a healthy new week!

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  9. Love when the birds return. Love seeing your bird visitors today.
    Joy

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  10. Are you looking at me?
    I have not seem juncos in quite a while.

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  11. You have quite a variety of birds vising you.

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  12. The Robin was for years my harbinger of spring, but the past few years that has changed to the Red-winged Blackbird. I am not sure why...kind of surprised myself when I realized that. It may be because when my daughter lived in Indianapolis, I saw them there during Dec and January...

    You at least have a variety of birds to watch.

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  13. And it is the sounds of all those Spring birds we love so much too. How nice stepping outside to hear all the new Spring twittering. And some birds like the Cardinals with all their songs wrapped up in one little bird.

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  14. Birds at my feeders are my kind of thing too. I like watching and feeding them also and of course taking pictures of them. So glad you have a regimen to help keep you busy. I remember when my late husband had his first stroke and I cared for him at home. He was bedridden and wheelchair bound and couldn't even speak. So finding things to do was challenging. He wasn't into games or being read to. And he couldn't read anymor---he really had a brain scramble. So we went for rides everyday. He did seem to enjoy that. Funny thing is that we became the very best friends during those 4 yrs. Well after 50 yrs of marriage we existed but ...anyway it was amazing.
    So good you have your faculties and can think for yourself. When life is hard still being able to use your brain is satisfying. I imagine---I lost mine years ago.
    Good night
    MB

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  15. The birds right now are my joy too. We've actually witnessed some mating first hand - ahem, some things are not meant for our eyes! robins and crows. tsk tsk!

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  16. funny to see robins and snow. i always think of spring when the robins return!! beautiful birds, lovely captures of them!! i can't wait to see the goldfinches in their summer clothes!!!

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  17. Whenever I comment on my iMac, the comment disappears! Grrr! Nice group of birds. Have you ever checked into Project Feeder Watch? I've done it for the last 4 years, and it is a great way to contribute to bird science in North America.

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