Recent Backyard Bird Sightings

Our adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is still with us, and now has a new heated feeder which he loves.   The make of the feeder is Hummers Heated Delight.

Unfortunately, we also have one or more hawks hanging around terrorizing our feeder birds.  We have yet to see a hawk, but that is also the norm.  The feeder birds when a hawk is around either freeze, as the hawk looks for movement to detect prey, or they bolt for cover and do not reappear, often for an hour or more.  The most likely hawks in our yard are either Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawks, as their primary prey is other birds.

Now back to a brighter note, Our first new fall visitor was a Fox Sparrow (pic 1).  Lately we have had a regular Hermit Thrush for about 2 weeks (pics 2-4).  He first started coming to our bird-creek in the backyard, but soon spotted the Robin feeding on top of the platform feeder, so he checked that out, found some raisins, and has been returning for raisins. You will notice that in pic 3 he is signaling the Robins where to go.  In pic 4 he is at his diplomatic best by the bird-creek just before Biden's Diplomacy summit.

Questions about Fintel's Feeders and Water Features on 5/8/19 OLLI Class

Following are links to answers for questions raised in our class on 5/8/19. All links will take you to earlier posts on this blog.

Sources of the Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder, plus Droll Yankee Domed Cage Feeder, and the Humzinger Hummingbird Feeder and Ant Trap,  plus the The recipe for the suet we use are all available at this LINK.

Details of our latest design for the Safe Haven Cage Feeder is available HERE

Avian Aquatics Misters and Drippers are available from Birds Choice via Amazon HERE

For details on Leaf Misting for warblers and hummingbirds click HERE 

As I mentioned in our 5/8/19 class, Avian Aquatics Bird-Creeks are no longer available, but if you search, you should still be able to find shallow water features with moving water, or you can be creative and make your own.

At this LINK you can see the amazing results of a simple shallow (1 to 2 inch deep) moving water feature on the Dry Tortugas. Even birds shown on branches were attracted to the water feature, and just waiting their turn.

Best Birds from our OLLI class at Prime Hook on 5/2/2018....and tomorrow's plans

In summary we saw 44 species, and heard another 13, for a very respectable total of 57 species in 3 hrs. I am just going to list the highlight birds (which are all new birds for our class):

Osprey
Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
Semipalmated and Least Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Forester's Tern
Pileated Woodpecker
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - building a nest
Hermit Thrush - seen by all through scope on road to Fleetwood Pond
Wood Thrush heard very well - and our musicians recognized the flute-like quality of its song
Warblers heard - Northern Parula, Yellow, Yellow-throated, Prothonotory, and Ovenbird
Warblers seen - Yellow-rumped, Pine, Black-and-White, and Common Yellowthroat.
Scarlet Tanager was heard....and is high on our want-to-see list
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow

Weather for tomorrow's class looks excellent. Remember we meet at Bill and Sally's yard in Mill Pond Acres and will bird it plus we will analyze some of the special bird feeders, water features, and plantings. Then we will travel to the nearby Nature Conservancy McCabe Preserve. We will be back at Bill and Sally's by 10:45 am as several of us have an 11:30 commitment.

Water for birds when it is dry

Winds have been strongly from the east, but on land, our environment has been very dry. So a good time to add water to your backyard bird "feeding" menu. Details to follow, but below are a few pics from this afternoon in our backyard with our water feature.......and the Bluejays always win the bird bathing contests :)

Misting for Warblers and Hummingbirds

Misters are one of the first water products developed by Avian Aquatics back in the early 1990's. Avian Aquatics was sold to Backyard Nature Products in 2003 and they still offer the original Avian Aquatics designs of misters and drippers. My favorite is the Leaf Mister, which is designed to go in a low tree or shrub and wet the foliage, as well as provide a gentle rain shower. This is especially attractive to small songbirds, such as warblers and hummingbirds. Below are two pictures taken yesterday of a Blackpoll Warbler bathing in the mist from a Leaf Mister.

 Beginning to bathe

Dripping wet after 15 minutes of bathing

Baltimore Orioles coming clean in Lewes DE

To Prime Hook, OLLI and Road Scholar birding participants, you have heard me talk about the virtues of moving water. Following are 4 pics from this afternoon in our backyard showing how effective moving water can be. Click on pic for enlarged view. First 3 are of male, last pic is of female checking out male's bathing decision (no doubt she approved, if only because it was time for him to get clean).

Best,
Bill and Sally