BIRDS and CRITTERS
I moved the code from a now defunct typepad page to here. Obviously it needs lot of work and updating. I will get to it one day if my beer supply holds.
Keep in mind my only goal in photography is to get a photo good enough to ID the bird.
My friend Fonda asked, "Where do you buy your birdseed and what kind".
Here is the "short" answer.
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My experience is feed types change with the seasons. The very best time to attract birds is in Winter and Spring. In Summer and Fall it is more of a challenge to compete with Mother Nature.
Different types of feeders are best for different birds. I have many, change them in and out as the seasons change. Basically you need tube types which mimic tree limbs to perch on and hopper types to mimic jumping around on the ground. One MUST have a suet feeder to attract those that don't care as much as to seeds. I am always on the look out for some new/clever design.
On this blog I put up a step by step easy way to make a perfect hopper feeder. https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2019/03/build-a-bird-feeder.html
--- Sunflower seed is the standard. Not all birds care as to it, but many do. Best place to buy is Tractor supply where the seed is fresh (unlike supermarket crap). A 40# bag is most times under $20. I generally pick up a few bags.
--- Shelled sunflower is good. There is less mess, and pound for pound as to actual food and not shell, it is comparable to in the shell as to $$. At Tractor Supply it is about $30 for 20#. Some birds who can't open sunflower in the shell will also eat this.
--- White millet is a must in Winter and some eat it all year. Don't buy that "mixed seed" crap at the supermarket or Lowes. Just buy white millet. I get mine at a feed store in 50# bags. Go to a feed store, if they don't have it, they can get it in.
--- Suet, I have some real suet right now, but what they prefer is a mix I keep out year. If you want to attract the song birds, this is the way. Put a pot on the stove and mix in crunchy peanut butter and cornmeal. For the Winter mix I add real lard. Melt the peanut butter in the jar and lard in the tub in the microwave and pour it in with the cornmeal. I make a big batch in my beer brewing pot a couple times a year. Birds who live on insects love it. Pure seed eaters pass on this. Don't mix in other things like bird seed. Birds have enough problem cracking those, making them oily does not help.
---Thistle is good for finch, but expensive, I rarely buy it.
--- Safflower is one many like. Squirrels don't. A new version came out a couple years ago called Nutra-Saff . The hulls are tender and more nutritious, or so they claim. It is more expensive, best buy is Walmart online with free delivery.
--- Peanuts are fun, in and out of the shell. I mostly use shelled. I chop some as birds like the Carolina Wren need a little help. Many birds love these. I get a #50 pound bag on Amazon and it last a year.
Sunny day, some birds are about.
Downy Woodpecker
House Finch
Gold Finch
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Titmouse
Blue Jay
Red-bellied Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-Breasted Grosbeaks (A few have been around for days.)
Chickadee
Fish Crow
Pileated Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Cardinal
Canada Goose
Dove
Hummingbird - (Got up and it was 58degrees. A Hummingbird was sitting on a feeder. I thought all were gone.)
That is a decent backyard list considering only two are not year-round.
These two great looking birds are in the yard right now:
I don't want any snakes in my yard. If yall like them, great, will bring mine over.
I looked out the window and saw this guy on one of my Humming Bird feeders waiting on a meal to fly up.
I don't like that!! It is a Tasmanian Devil Viper or maybe just a Black snake, don't care. It is not welcome.
On the good side, my first Fall Rose-breasted Grosbeak just arrived. She is on her way to South America.
Junior showed up for a bath.
I am hoping Pop will show.
---- Life is good ----
My first observed migrant just breached the yard.
A female American RedStart is taking a bath in my branch.
I see last year got on the porch on the 20th
:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Viero
Hope springs eternal.
Here at the Catbird seat keep out some water, lets see - 5. Water is always in demand.
A good porch water station must be small enough to quickly dump and refill - often.
That is due to birds being messy and skeeters. Plus a coon can empty it at one drinking.
Put out water and birds will come. I promise.
This is just "drinking water".
Right now at the branch in my yard, 3 birds are taking a bath. There are most always birds in it. That is more than most are interested in doing, so just put out a shallow bowl on you porch.
Today I put out #6, need to retire a couple.
I ran across this and wanted it. I set it on the deck rail.
I had these many years back. A couple were in a big Oak and would come to the porch for suet. They even would guard it. Then ,for years have had none. I did photo a juvenile passing by a couple years back in the YC Migrant Contest.
They live in this area and most of the USA all year, I just never have any.
It is a striking bird. Many people will see a Downy or a Red-bellied and say they saw a Red-headed.
Males and females look the same.
"These birds fly to catch insects in the air or on the ground, forage on trees or gather and store nuts. They are omnivorous, eating insects, seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, and occasionally small rodents. About two thirds of their diet is made up of plants."
One has shown up here off the porch the last couple of days. I hope he hangs around.
For comparison, here is a Red-bellied Woodpecker in the yard. I see these every day all year. It generally arrvives sceaming at my bedroom window feeder before I get out of bed.
Here is a method I use to make a feeder. It is simple and easy. I don't worry as to it being perfect, just efficient.
These type feeders mimic eating on the ground, but of course much safer for the birds as they are on a pole.
These things are expensive to purchase, but not if you make them. You can save a bundle to spend on bird food and beer. As a plus you can size them to fit your needs.
Here is a nice store bought one that is getting too much traffic and needs to be larger.
One thing as to most store bought is they don't have enough roof overhang to keep the food more dry. Another is some do not drain from the bottom. If we make our own, we can correct all that.
I believe one 12X18 inches would be about right for this spot. You can adjust what I do here to any size you need.
I prefer cedar due to it being very light. Lowes sells it cheap. This feeder will weigh little. That can be important if you are on a ladder at my age.
You will need some roof boards. Mine are tongue and groove cut to 30". No caulk or sealing will be needed with these, so buy "tongue and groove".
You will need 8 frame boards. I used 1/2X1. Four are cut to 20" and four to 12".
You will need 4 roof supports. Two I cut at 12" and two at 10" so the roof will slant.
You will need 3 roof braces, cut to ever how wide your roof is.
You will need a piece of hardware cloth and a piece of fiberglass screen cut to what ever size your floor is. You will know that size after "step one".
--Step1 -- tack (I use deck screws) the lower frame together.
--Step2 -- attach the hardware cloth. I use a few staples to hold it in place.
--Step3 -- attach the fiberglass screen.
--Step4 -- tack on the upper frame.
--Step5 -- attach the roof supports.
--Step6 -- tack a middle support to the roof.
--Step7 -- use the other two supports to attach the roof to the frame.
I painted this one, but you might prefer natural or a clear stain.
Here it is mounted, need to paint the mounts. I think it is a big upgrade from the store bought one in the first photo and cost about a third of that one.
Here are a few fun photos taken last week as I sat on my ass with excellent beer and good music.
Check my Yardcrap Forum for info and discussion.
http://yardcraphome.com/showthread.php?4434-More-Birds
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Song Sparrow STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: song-sparrow UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2019/03/song-sparrow.html DATE: 03/02/2019 04:17:11 PM ----- BODY:I have better but these are a few snaps today of one guy:
This is said to be the most abundant Sparrow in North America.
I get a couple to a few each Winter. If so abundant, would think I would get many, but nope, just a few. They live around 11 years, so maybe I just get a visit from the same family.
"These birds forage on the ground, in shrubs or in very shallow water." Mine hang out around the frog pond and no matter how cold, like to splash around in my branch. They dig around in the leaf clutter for bugs and spilled feeder seeds. Sometimes they hit the feeders, but not often. They are ground birds. They tend to migrate here with my White-throats and Juncos who have the same eating habits and styles. All kinda jump and rake back leaves.
Quick identification is the black spot on the chest.
In Summer don't see sparrows much, occasional the Field Sparrow who begins to show before the Chipping Sparrows migrate away. Maybe because Winter seeds are becoming less? The Field Sparrow might show on any day of the year, but not daily or weekly.
In Winter the main ones here are the Chipping Sparrow in large numbers and several White-throated.
During migrations, I get to see some others.
Maybe odd is a House Sparrow is rare here. I go a few miles to Lowes and they are inside at the feed, in my old home in Matthews had them nesting, but here - rare.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Birds I see Everyday STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: birds-i-see-everyday UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2019/01/birds-i-see-everyday.html DATE: 01/25/2019 04:04:55 PM ----- BODY:
Seasons change things.
Late January is a great time to be a bird watcher.
Here are some I see everyday all year from my yard, not most days, but everyday:
- Chickadee
- Titmouse
- Carolina Wren
- Gold Finch
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Blue Jay
- White-breasted Nut Hatch
- Downy Woodpecker
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Fishing Crow
- Cardinal
- Brown-headed Nuthatch
- Dove
These Winter days, everyday I also see:
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Ruby Kinglet
- Pine Warbler
- Chipping Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Pine Siskin
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
I am sure I missed naming some, but that is a lot.
Others may appear or not, but the above are here all day.
Also likely to be seen are:
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Mockingbird
- Hermit Thrush
- Robin
- Cedar Waxwing
- different lake birds
- Red-headed Vulture
- Black-headed Vulture
- Screech Owl
- Golden Flicker
- Golden Kinglet
- Field Sparrow
In addition to the regulars, anybody might drop by including Eagles. Life on the porch is exciting. My list is over 120 with photos.
Spend an hour on my porch and seeing 20+ different birds is 100%, and at all times there are a hundred birds here, not a dozen, a hundred. It can get kinda like that Alfred Hitchcock movie.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Birds Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: birds-today UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/11/birds-today.html DATE: 11/28/2018 04:02:05 PM ----- BODY:46 degrees - 3PM to 4PM
Pine Warbler
Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Finch
Chickadee
Cardinal
Towhee
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
Gold Finch
Mockingbird
Purple Finch
Red-bellied Nuthatch
White-bellied Nuthatch
Dove
Red-headed Woodpecker
Ruby Kinglet
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Robin
All seen from my porch chair.
I now have many Winter birds, and the yard is always active. One odd thing is the last several days a couple of Blue Jays are often at the sunflower feeders. I have them all year, but over my 17 years here, have not had them regular at the feeders, mostly getting water or just having fun raising hell.
I have yet to see a Song Sparrow or a Junco. I believe I saw a Creeper a couple days back. Some birds (Thrush, Thrasher, Catbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler) that are normally here are so far missing today.
My Chipping Sparrow population was low last year at just a couple dozen as opposed to the normal hundred. So far I have maybe ten, but suspect the numbers will swell. They are fun birds and just eat millet which is cheap at $25 for 50 pounds. Most people put out "bird seed" from the supermarket which is mostly red and white millet. That mix is a waste of money. Birds eat the white, so go to a feed store. Millet is not a favorite of many year-round birds. The Cardinals like to nibble on it, so I keep some out all year. Come Winter it is the choice of all types of Sparrows.
Pine Siskins came by a couple weeks back but moved on. I am kinda glad as I had them last Winter. They can break the feeder budget. Unlike most birds, they migrate to a different area each year. They like sunflower as do my many, many Finches and most birds.
Here is a Maine Coon Cat at the Branch (The Devil) looking for a bird to jump. He is a loner as my cats refuse to be his friend. My experience is well fed cats rarely get serious enough to actually catch a bird, especially a mature one.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Bird Hunting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: bird-hunting UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/10/bird-hunting.html DATE: 10/20/2018 04:04:24 PM ----- BODY:
I hunt birds.
Here is a link to some regulations in my area.
Kill Birds
Some say I spent too much time hunting them, but I am easily amused due to my low IQ. Being alone with one's thoughts or maybe with excellent music while having a goal makes it "not" seem like being lazy and wasting one's life away. Fishing is the same. If I sit on the dock with good beer and ? I am lazy. If I put a line in the water I am not lazy, I am fishing.
As untold millions look often to see what I post on the web, I am not lazy, just doing my job.
All my bird friends are legally safe right now.
I shot a few birds today, but all I have ever use is a camera.
It is not hard work, but it can be difficult.
Most birds do not come to bird feeders. As I seldom leave my porch chair, anyone can see the problem.
I just now took dozens of photos chasing a Kinglet in an Elm Tree and all are a second late.
Gaining focus before he flies maybe a foot away is hard. His job is not to pose for me, but to glean tiny bugs from the branches.
I sit up high in the tree tops. From the ground chasing this bird today would be useless. Actually it was useless from my vantage point - but fun! Here are the best shots:
Make no mistake, I will hunt this bird again. I already have great photos of him from hunting days past. It is not about photos, but about "hunting". I know as Winter arrives and bugs are less he will be eating my suet mix less than ten foot away and an easy target. He might even land on my leg. No matter, today he has just arrived for this season, and I am hunting him. Many migrants will just pass by on their way to the tropics, but this guy is home.
I am excited to see he made it back.
I understand the concept that hunting birds and killing them helps all.
I understand the concept of killing birds to eat.
I understand I eat chickens that are killed in a cage and have no "sporting chance".
I am not logical.
Anytime one of my birds is harmed, it pisses me off.
Soon just yards from my porch many exciting breeds of ducks will arrive.
I will hunt them with my boat and camera. It pisses me off that anyone would find "sport" and "thrills" in killing them.
While stalking the Kinglet, accidentally got a photo of the Green Warbler from the last post and this Nuthatch about a thousand feet up.
My eyes are old. Often I don't know what I shot until i can see the photo.
I have some decent camera crap and some decent guns. The cameras are for birds and the guns are for Zombies.
Easy hunting is this Grosbeak on a feeder. That is not the mature male I have posted here as to waiting on, but WTF, good looking bird (and photo). This kid believes he is a man (bird man)!
On the porch killing some time before the Clemson Tigers crush NCS.
My Red-bellied Sapsucker has arrived for the Winter and maybe saw a Kinglet. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still around after several days, wish they would stay. I finally had a male in full color show, but got no photos.
I did get photos of two Warblers, but one is not a Warbler.
This female Summer Tanager was playing in the water:
This Black-throated Green Warbler also went in for a dip.
I know she has no black throat, but that is why Warblers are so tough to ID if you don't get a photo. Getting a Warbler photo can be hard, another reason to have some water in your yard.
Sitting on the porch hunting birds.
The usual suspects are out here plus a few Grosbeaks. Leaves are still thick, so finding a Warbler is not easy. I can do best with my binoculars, then before I can switch to the camera, the bird moves or disappears.
I watch for movement, but when I get the binos on it, most times discover a Cardinal or a Finch. Also leaves are beginning to fall which creates movement. I like to hunt.
No matter as I did get photos good enough to ID a couple migrants.
First up is this Yellow Warbler on the way to Mexico:
This photo is not as good, but good enough to ID this Red-eyed Vireo headed to South America.
The Grosbeaks took a bath in the sprinklers
I got a $40 guitar and am on the porch trying to pick it. My fingers are spastic, and I can't read music. No matter as I got it mostly as decoration for my RedNeck Bar. Pilsner Urquell is my favorite, so how could I refuse this at auction?
As I was picking and grinning, saw some birds.
(I am better with camera than guitar)
A Rose-breasted Grosbeak has been by.
A Mockingbird dropped by for some water.
I love these guys, but they seldom visit me until the berries ripen in mid Winter. I don't know why.
Making my day was this beautiful Hermit Thrush. Once this guy arrives, I know everything will be fun this Fall and Winter. He will hang out around my Frog pond till Spring, and even come up here in the CatBird House for suet.
I was told if I practice ten minutes a day, can learn guitar. I don't know. At 72 my fingers don't jump around as "individuals" as my brain has dulled.
Now if I had started young like Keith - ?
One of the best times of the year for a back yard birder is Fall.
Anybody might drop by.
Last week I saw a Pine Warbler and another I did not ID.
Also this Yellow-throated Vireo dropped by:
It is hard to catch a good photos as the leaves are thick and these Warbler types flit branch to branch.
Most likely many birds have already dropped by and I missed them. No one can just sit on the porch all the time because ??
Yesterday a couple young Rose-breasted Grosbeaks showed. Maybe their parents will arrive soon?
Today is a rare sighting of a snapping turtle. I believe there are at least two in my pond. I did not put them there. They mostly stay underwater so are not good pond turtles like my Sliders who bask in the Sun.
The weather is cooler today at 84, the beer is too cold, and I have Charles Aznavour (R.I.P. today at 94) on the porch stereo.
Life on the porch is exciting and fun!
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: SUMMER DOG (cat) DAYS STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: summer-dog-cat-days UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/08/summer-dog-cat-days.html DATE: 08/21/2018 02:03:52 PM ----- BODY:I know it seems I have abandoned this place, but not so.
Summer back yard bird watching is what it is.
That means 5% as to numbers to watch, and mostly the same birds. I like "MY" birds, even name this or that one. Birds are creatures of habit like us all. An individual bird will tend to land on the same branch and do the same things while his peer does different. I am not going to post that I worry when a bird goes missing as that would be weird even for me.
Back here in the woods, birds are about. The woods are full of food birds prefer as opposed to my crap. Actually (don't tell anyone this), I once put out a stand of spoiled fruit to attract flies hoping to attract birds (like Flycatchers) to eat the flies.
I don't have fewer types of birds at my feeder in Summer, but many less birds.
Always off the porch here are Cardinals, Titmice, Wrens, Finches, and Chickadees jumping about to entertain me. Posting more fun photos of them (which I will) has not motivated me lately.
Foods they are into right now are chopped peanuts, suet, and of course Sunflower. A fun note is millet is normally a slow sale in Summer. Normally a few Buntings prefer it and others only "pick" at it. This Summer a few of the Cardinals are into it. I have never seen Cardinals into millet to this extent before.
My Humming bird population has picked up as is the norm.
Early on I use several 8oz feeders to attract them. Over breeding season they go through maybe a quart a week. Humming Birds don't live and breed on sugar water, but on protein derived from insects.
When breeding ends, the locals and others gather at my feeders to fatten up for their impossible journey ahead. Imagine, a tiny bird just a couple months old will soon be required to fly across the Gulf of Mexico to South America.
Right now I am going through about ten pounds of sugar a week. It pisses me off when I see an empty or sour feeder at any ones yard. It takes almost no time or $ to help these guys out a little.
Keep those cards and letters coming in.
Here is an old photo of one of my smart Tree Frogs. He figured out insects also come to the HBs feeders.
I don't like to seem greedy and have all the great bird adventures, but - ?
As I have posted before, in the Spring I get a couple Indigo Buntings but they leave, and I seldom see one here over Summer.
Today at a feeder, a parent has brought in a couple kids to teach.
The quick photo is not too good, but good ones will soon be taken as they will return.
Also is a photo of Swallows on one of my dock houses.
I must be living right!
For too many years some claim I have spent too much time sitting on my ass watching my birds eat and drink.
I disagree. I find it extremely entertaining like some do TV.
Decades back I named my old Adirondack Chair the "CatBird Seat".
Naturally when Rosey (R.I.P.) and I build this bird house to keep the rain off us, we named it the 'CatBird House'.
The Gray Catbird is secretive but energetic. It hides in the bush and is heard more than seen. I have some that moved back to SC when I did. (maybe they were already here?) According to this map I should not have them all year, but I do.
I hate to hear him. He sounds like a cat caught in a trap. I now know it is him, but his call always unnerves me.
Like his cousins (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) he can copy the sounds of other birds.
The oldest known Gray Catbird was at least 17 years. I have been here 17 years, maybe it is the same one?
So WTF is going on with him this week?
The guy is off the porch every day in plain sight which is not normal. Most times if I see him it is at my Frog Pond for water.
After a couple days I realized he was by my Turtle Pond due to the Leatherleaf Mahonia which puts out fruit in Spring.
These are the size of a grape. Surprisingly, he can easily swallow a few of these whole.
This is a fun bird and believes he is the master of all.
Here he is today:
Hundreds of thousands of people replied to the contest below to ID the bird. No one was right. Chuck would win a prize as he was here on the porch when the bird first showed, but that would be cheating. I am not sure Chuck believed me when I said it was Blue Grosbeak due to no "blue" and me being wrong most times.
A few days later it becomes more clear as his cousin shows up:
This is a Blue Grosbeak. They visit me every Summer (have not seen adults yet. Many spend the Summer nearby but stop coming to my feeders as they prefer Nature's bounty.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Contest Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: contest-results UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/05/contest-results.html DATE: 05/04/2018 04:10:08 PM ----- BODY:Hundreds of thousands of people replied to the contest below to ID the bird. No one was right. Chuck would win a prize as he was here on the porch when the bird first showed, but that would be cheating. I am not sure Chuck believed me when I said it was Blue Grosbeak due to no "blue" and me being wrong most times.
A few days later it becomes more clear as his cousin shows up:
This is a Blue Grosbeak. They visit me every Summer (have not seen adults yet. Many spend the Summer nearby but stop coming to my feeders as they prefer Nature's bounty.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Bird Count STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: bird-count UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/04/bird-count.html DATE: 04/26/2018 02:40:13 PM ----- BODY:
What have I seen from the porch today?
It is cloudy and 65 degrees. Most Winter birds have migrated out, but stragglers remain.
1 -Turkey Vulture
2 -Black Vulture
3 -Gold Finch
4 -Purple Finch
5 -House Finch
6 -Pine Warbler
7 -Yellow-rumped Warbler
8 -Chickadee
9 -Titmouse
10 -White-throated Sparrow
11 -Chipping Sparrow
12 -Field Sparrow
13 -Cardinal
14 -Indigo Bunting
15 -Cowbird
16 -White-breasted Nuthatch
17 -Carolina Wren
18 -Canada Goose
19 - Blue Heron
20 -Downy Woodpecker
21 -Red-bellied Woodpecker
22 -Blue Jay
23 -Pine Siskin
23 -Fishing Crow
Beaver
Squirrel
Chipmunk
Frog
Turtle
Fish
Cat
Not too bad for just a 6-pack and Bill Evans playing too loud on the stereo system.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Indigo Bunting and ? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: indigo-bunting-and- UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/04/indigo-bunting-and-.html DATE: 04/24/2018 02:26:34 PM ----- BODY:I have several Indigo Buntings today. They are here all Summer, but come to my feeders sporadically and not often.
Here is a young one.
So who is this?
Post a guess in the comments blow.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Killing Cow Birds STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: killing-cow-birds UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/04/killing-cow-birds.html DATE: 04/22/2018 05:28:37 PM ----- BODY:Every year I am positive I will wipe out Cow Birds that infect my yard.
Every year I wimp out.
In Spring I have them, then they are gone.
It is brood parasite. There are millions of them and they don't raise the young. They lay an egg here and there in the nests of other birds. The Cowbird hatching is stronger and gets all the food as the other hatching's die. The nest parents in most cases cannot ell the difference. If you want your back yard birds to produce more like themselves to entertain you, Cow Birds are your enemy. They have at times nearly wiped out a few species.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown-headed_cowbird
In my defense today in the rain is that Percy is on my lap and I don't want to disturb his happy sleep. So I sit watching a few eat my feeder food and my brain burns.
I have a couple air soft guns that are excellent at scaring them off. They hit hard, but I am unlikely to hit a bird with one. In the plus, they don't tear up my bird feeders and scare the hell out of Cow Birds as they are loud and spit out plastic BBs at a high rate.
I have this $150 pistol that some military and police units use to train new people with:
It is very good, accurate, and not a complete toy at 350ft/sec. Right now it is on loan to Chuck.
This year I got this one in:
It is expensive, but over the top. It fires 900 rounds a minute at 430ft/sec. It has a real "WOW" factor as to going after Cow Birds as they fly off. It sounds like I am in the middle of a war zone.
I have this real BB gun (and some others) that is fun and very good:
It fires 6 round burst as fast as you can pull the trigger. It holds 300 BBs, 30 in chamber. It spits out metal BBs at 430ft/sec and can chew up bottles, cans, my bird feeders, Cow Birds, etc. It is serious.
On the porch these are great fun as I plink at targets all year. Can I hit a Cow Bird or maybe you with one?
You I can hit, a Cow Bird at 50 foot, not so easy. I may not have it in me to harm a critter, even a Cow Bird. I have been trying to hit one for decades as I hate them, but just shoot close and scare them off.
I could hit one easy with this gun I have:
It launches a lead pellet at 520ft/sec and is spot on accurate. I could hit a Cow Bird in my feeders easy with this. It is not a toy.
Also known as Myrtle Warbler (which this one is).
These are around in Winter and are migrating now.
This one was high up in the Elm tree, but I got a couple photos that are good enough quality to ID it.
Out here today are still Pine Siskins, Pine Warblers, and Chipping Sparrows that have not yet left. An Indigo Bunting is here who has migrated in. Good fun in the yard.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Winter Birds STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: winter-birds UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/04/winter-birds.html DATE: 04/04/2018 06:07:39 PM ----- BODY:
This Winter, sitting on my ass watching birds has been very interesting -> even captivating. If I had to rank this Winter with another, could not as they are all good.
It is closing down now, and migration has many birds foolishly headed north.
There is no need to leave, plenty of food and water here. Nature rules, but ??
Many Canada Geese no longer leave because - why do that?
As I live in the Blue Ridge foothills, some birds that leave, will occasionally have cousins show here any time of year. I like my Pine Warblers and see no reason for them to leave. Occasionally one will show in Summer as some just migrate up the mountain. This is my favorite Winter bird.
Most years my most numerous Winter bird is the Chipping Sparrow. I normally get a million. They only eat millet which is cheap at the feed store in 50# bags. They keep my yard active with energy. That draws in other birds. This Winter I only had about 50. I don't know why. Some have not yet left on migration. I hope next year they arrive with lots of kids and friends.
On the flip side Pine Siskins came. This is a bird with an extremely sporadic winter range. All I can say is -- yea for that. I might not see one again for a few years. It is the size of a Gold Finch and is a Finch. It is called "irruptive" due to migration habits. It eats every type seed and also my peanuts. This Winter about a billion moved in. It is a beautiful bird, active and fun - but sooo... many!! They have dominated my feeders. Everyday I see fewer. I hope to see them again in maybe 5 years.
Many Winter birds I see daily such as Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Sap-sucker, White-throated, Song Sparrow, Junco -- > seem to be gone. Many Chipping Sparrows and a few Pine Siskins remain.
Got in a message from a guy who is a famous "Nature Guy" in the Southeast. For years he leads weekly hikes all over Georgia and the Carolinas.
http://hikingsouth.com/
If you are ever in the area, you are welcome to join in. It is free and fascinating. Tony is the real deal and you will learn a lot.
Well, I put out my first sample of YC Peanut butter cake. Within 30 minutes I have had visits from Black-capped Chickadees, Downey Woodpeckers, House finch, and a Cardinal. I think I will put more cornmeal in the next batch since it is a little oily.
I bought a 4 lb jar of PNB at Walmart for $4.68. It looks like it will make quite a bit of fake suet. It will end up being cheaper than the store bought suet and they seem to like it better. People learn stuff on Yard Crap! Thanks!
This little fella just keeps coming back for more peanut butter recipe! Can you ID it? I thought immature gold finch or pine warbler. He is very small.
Tony could have used his book, but why not have fun with me? Nature conversatio0n is always more fun with more than one. Thanks Tony.
This is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet .
In our area this time of year also is the Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Here he is 5 foot away - hard for my lens to focus that close.
At some angles a spot of color on the crown of the head can be seen. I have some photos of the ruby and golden with it showing, even both in one photo , but too lazy to look them up right now.
The only other bird we have as small is the Brown-headed Nut Hatch who also loves this suet mix.
At my house most of it is eaten by the Red-bellied Woodpecker. They only come to my bedroom window, not here on the porch. After eggs hatch they will carry it off in chunks, and soon will bring the fledglings by to teach them to eat it. This has been going on for 15 years. My cats go wild at the window as the RBW always calls out a challenge as he arrives.
On the porch, the Downy eats all year.
About the only common feeder birds who never eat it are the Dove, Gold Finch, and Purple Finch. The House Finch does.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Is Winter Over STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: is-winter-over UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2018/02/is-winter-over.html DATE: 02/15/2018 01:03:55 PM ----- BODY:This Winter has had more really cold days than I can recall at the lake.
The last few days has been warmer and wet. The lake is up. I kinda hate that as I always have water, and being selfish, like when others can't launch. Having the lake to myself is nice. I suppose Chuck and Fenders disagree
.
After a sprinkle start, the day is now up to 69 with Sun breaking through from time to time.
I sat down to rest and saw a big frog peaking out.
That almost made m my day, but then even better a Turtle appeared for the first time in 2018.
Ten minutes later a 2nd climbed out. They both look great, so I guess laying on the bottom of my pond for months has done them no harm.
The turtles have been wet for a long time and are now drying out and breathing frsh air. It is kinda cool they can stay under for months and not breathe. I hope the clouds clear up some for them. My pond is up to 62 degrees with is above average for February. It is generally colder than the lake, but this Winter I turned off the spillway and it has stayed warmer.
I don't know the ground temps, but they should be similar. That is evident as I have up rows of Daffodils and my Hellebore are in bloom. To early to plant as I am sure Winter will return. Around here we are subject to frost until the 2nd week of April.
It has been unusually cold here for a couple weeks.
I have had fun out here on the porch with temps in the 20's.
Some of my water holes froze over.
My birds have been fun, and I got a few good photos. I am too lazy today to mess with them, but will at some point.
A few more Chipping Sparrows have showed, so up to about a dozen. Pine Siskins are definitely here this year
and today are at all my feeders. Right now about a dozen are taking a bath.
I now have 3 Pine Warblers
, but only one Kinglet, one Hermit Thrush, one Yellow-rumped Warbler, and as of now, no Juncos.
Right now in the Sunshine with temps at 57, the yard is full.
I have out around 20 feeders with different foods. Sunflower and Sunflower chips are in demand most due to most all eat that. The Siskins and the Finches are hungry.
The favorite food here at my Catbird chair is chopped shelled peanuts. The Pine Warblers, Nut hatches, and Kinglet are eating more of that than even my suet mix.
Have a couple Checkfield albums on today and the birds approve.
Birds I have seen so far today:
Black Vulture
House Finch
Gold Finch
Titmouse
Cardinal
White-breasted Nuthatch
Chickadee
Purple Finch
White-throated Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Song Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Pine Warbler
Red-breasted Woodpecker
Mocking Bird
Downy Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Blue Jay
Mallard
Suet Time
All year is "suet time".
Birds who have a diet higher in insects than seeds eat this. At my place, it is eaten by Titmouse, Chickadee, Cardinal, and even House and Purple Finches. Birds who eat this and seldom eat seeds are Jays, Mocking Birds, all Warblers, Woodpeckers, Hatches, etc.
About the only birds who do not care for it are Gold Finch and Sparrows.
What is suet?
Suet is the raw, hard fat of beef or mutton found around the loins and kidneys.
Like all critters, birds need protein, fat, and carbs.
For decades I have read to ask you butcher for some suet. I never have. Decades ago I went through a lot of the store bought cakes, but where I live now, birds ignore that even though I always have a cake of it out. My birds are spoiled.
What I use is not "suet", I just call it that. It serves the same purpose.
My birds prefer it. In Winter months when insects are less, it goes fast. I use a peanut butter mix. All us critter like peanut butter.
For decades I have read many recipes people use. They are legion. I am going to tell you what works from experience, not a repeat of a repeat of a web or magazine article written by some "so called" expert.
I mix mine in a 10 gallon pot I once used to make beer (before I got a bigger one for the beer). This stuff keeps for months if done right, so making a lot works for me. You can of course make it in small batches. That is the better way to go at first.
In Winter it can have more oil, in Summer not as much. Experience will help you in your climate. I like mine to be as rich as possible, not a hard cake.
The deal for me is to give my birds some actual nourishment as they show up to entertain me. They deserve it.
People add in all sorts of seeds and etc in their "special" recipes. Don't do that. This is not about "you" being clever, but about feeding the birds. Seeds are already hard for birds to crack, making them slippery does not help. The "always" better way is not to mix any bird foods, but to offer different foods in different feeders. The bags of mixed seeds at the store are to attract you, not the birds.
Mixed seeds invite waste as birds dig for the one they want.
Throwing seeds, raisins, and WTF into your suet mix makes no sense.
Don't do it.
A good "suet mix" is peanut butter, corn meal, and flour. You need nothing more. I used to add lard, but seldom do not now. Lard is OK to use, but more peanut butter is better. At Amazon, Walmart, etc, you can find bulk buys to cut the co$t. I buy crunchy as it seems to be thicker with less oil.
Putting out pure peanut butter is OK. The problem is cost, and it is too oily.
Add in corn meal and you are good to go. For the hot Summer Time, add in some flour to harden it some. A good beginning ratio to start with is around 1:1 peanut butter to corn meal. That is a great, healthy mix for the birds. Most times of the year you will need some flour or more corn meal. I was raised on corn meal, beans, and peanut butter, it is good stuff. Maybe beans would be good for me try? I guess there is no need to fix it if it aint broke.
Open a large jar of crunchy peanut butter and microwave until liquid. Pour it in your pot over low heat and stir in cornmeal (add flour if needed for warmer weather).
After some cooling so the container don't melt, pour in to very clean (from the dish washer) tupper ware type plastic bowls. It will keep for months.
The birds are attracted to this much more than those store bought "suet cakes". It is no contest.
I make it up about twice a year. More is eaten in Winter as are all bird foods.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I once found a quick mix for fun at Christmas. Make up a few bird cakes to give to your friends (and your birds) this Christmas. I have made them many times at Christmas and will again. It is quick and easy. You can eat them too.
You need a muffin tin and some cupcake papers.
- one cup lard (or shorting)
- 2 cups crunchy peanut butter
- 4 cups corn meal
- Melt together as I wrote above and pour into the tin.
- sprinkle things on top to make them colorful. I use seeds and berries from the yard.
- Place in refrigerator.
Here a photo of some of mine ->
This is a cloudy cold day which is good for bird watching. All days are good for watching your birds. I have had about 20 different types out here in the last hour.
For good bird watching, make your yard bird friendly by putting in a few bird-friendly plants and adding some water.
Here is a good plant.
It draws the birds and is easy to grow.
Pyracantha is evergreen and has thorns to protect the birds. The sleep in it and also eat it. It grows fast. I have a few, prefer the ones with red berries, but have some with orange berries.
My sparrows are in. I have 3 types that are always about in Winter, Chipping, Song, and White-throated. The prefer white millet. The Song Sparrows are my cleanest birds, constantly talking a bath no matter the temp.
One of my Chipmunks is busy, hope the cat does not see him.
A tiny squirrel is watching him drink.
Here are two different Pine Warblers, one has much more yellow, almost looks like a different type bird.
Here is one of my Hooters (Tufted Titmouse).
All photos today were taken with the same lens. Some are 60 foot off and some just 6 foot away. It is an Olympus 300mm. It is on my small 4/3 camera so think 600mm. All are hand held. Hands tend to shake once you are past 70, but the fun remains. I think this to be a very good lens. At 60 foot it picked up the Song Sparrow's reflection in the water.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Life is good STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: life-is-good UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/12/life-is-good.html DATE: 12/09/2017 12:13:48 PM ----- BODY:
I was thinking all hope was lost.
Today with snow on the ground, my Chipping Sparrows finally made it.
My Winter days just brightened considerably.
A few days back I posted an old guy who hade arrived. Today a younger one showed. Every Winter I have several here off the porch. They eat millet from the feeders, but what they like is scratching around on the ground. They jump rakeing their claws backwards uncovering things underneath. It is fun to watch them work. They do the same in the feeders.
They are very good looking birds, but to see that you need binoculars. Well you need binos for all, but especially to see the colors on these birds.
They will mix in with the Juncos and Song Sparrows who hunt the same way. None of them have yet arrived. These guys make it worth your effort to grab your heavy coat, a mug of beer and sit on the porch.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Happy Happy Happy STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: happy-happy-happy UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/11/happy-happy-happy.html DATE: 11/11/2017 03:54:48 PM ----- BODY:My Pine Warbler showed today!
Well, I don't actually know if this is one of mine or just one stopping by as he travels to grab a meal. No matter as mine will be arriving.
My Winter is enhanced by these birds. They are very friendly and jump around here at the CatBird House as if I am not here. They are bright, energetic and add cheer.
Mine eat mostly my suet mix and peanuts.
Here he is: (well as I post this before going inside to watch CLEMSON play, he has not returned)
A nice male Downy who eats the same foods and is here with me all year will have to do for today.
This is 4 foot away with the equivalent of a 600mm lens, so can't get all of him.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Us Hermits STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: us-hermits UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/11/us-hermits.html DATE: 11/06/2017 03:44:32 PM ----- BODY:I am a hermit.
During any week I may only get to speak when I encounter the checkout lady at Home Depot.
On occassion I sign up for a foot race and get to talk to people. I tend to make a nusiance of myself then.
99% of my life - my voice is not used, and I am not seen.
I am good with that. My life is very good.
Today my Hermit Thrush arrived. He shows every year to entertain me in Winter. Some years I have 2.
He is poor at being a hermit as he is a constant at the pond and in the berry bushes. I have no idea why he is named 'Hermit Thrush' as he is not that. He is also an excellent singer, unlike me.
He and I are now ready for another great Winter on the porch.
A couple of my turtles are up today in November! The pond is at 82 degrees and Lake Hartwell is still warm.
A Summer Tanager dropped by.
This old White-throated is the first of many I hope will arrive this week.
My Gold Finch are starting to return from Fall nesting. They will help keep me entertained through the Winter.
A rare Robin came by to drink. When I get Robins, it is usually dozens, not one.
All the above showed up for water. If you don't have time to keep up feeders, just put out a bowl of water.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Blue-headed Vireo STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: blue-headed-vireo UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/11/blue-headed-vireo.html DATE: 11/01/2017 02:58:38 PM ----- BODY:
My bird time is less than I would prefer.
Migration is underway and my camera broke. I got another now.
I have seen a Magnolia Warbler and a Golden-crowned Kinglet, but no photos.
Today out here on the porch with Paul Desmond playing his sax, saw movement in the bushes and got this quick shot:
I know it is not a great photo and real bird photographers would walk out and do better, but I am a lazy porch sitter. This about 60 foot away trying to find focus through the foliage.
This is a Blue-headed Vireo passing by. If you have old birding books, it will be listed as Solitary Viero.
My new camera is the next up version of my old camera. I got it used from a guy in South Korea. I think it is going to work out well for me as to fun.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: More Critters STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: more-critters UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/10/more-critters.html DATE: 10/16/2017 12:15:54 PM ----- BODY:Here it is Fall Migration and my camera broke.
I have stocked in lots of beer, have some new music, but with my camera broken, am not happy.
I have seen a few Warblers, no photos - yet.
I dug out my old camera. It seems to be crap. That is strange as when I first aquired it, I believed it to be excellent.
Today on the porch playing Bobby Darin, a critter has joined me.
Here is my Branch and Frog Pond about 50 foot away. At the rear is a metal decoration my Bride gave me for Christmas. The old camera is not too bad.
Movement started behind the pond, and I believed it to be a Squirrel, but my binoculars showed it to be a rare Deer sighting. Deer are common here, and my neighbors complain as they eat their plants. Not me, I like to see them. I can grow new plants, in fact, have way too many. I don't see Deer very often as I sit out here.
To get a photo, the old camera had to spot focus at 60 foot through the bushes as I had it on auto. The old view finder and my old eyes are not good enough for me to manual focus at that distance.
Not too bad !
Most of my Humming Birds left a few days ago. Now instead of dozens, have maybe 10. I believe some or all of these may be birds stopping by as they travel by from the North. I am proud to be a stop over point. These tiny guys have an incredible journey to achieve. It pales anything I have ever done.
So far I have no photos of Winter migrants, but maybe I saw a couple.
If my records are right, they will start to show in the next week. I keep records as that entertains me.
Today I have the usual guys -- Cardinals, Wrens, Finches, Titmice, Chicadees, and a few Hummers. There is a lot of activitity, but nothing like what is ahead.
My Crows seem to have had a good breeding Summer as the flock seems larger. These guys are loud, lots of fun, and have never been a problem to me - just the opposite.
My CatBird landed in the bushes just now. He is secretive. He also drives me crazy crying as while I know it is him and not one of my cats in trouble - it rattles me.
Here is also a Cardinal. Can one ever take enough photos of Cardinals - ?
I have 50 Hummingbirds, maybe more. Right now they are drinking 8 quarts every 3 days. Maybe I had more last year, but no matter, I have a lot. I have to turn my music up a notch if I want to hear it over all that "humming".
Today in the yard are a dozen Cardinals, some Chicadees, Titmice (is that a word?), Doves, one Wren - etc. I can see Canada Geese at the Lake. Crows are really mad at something and rasing a racket. They hate Hawks, Ospreys, and Eagles.
I should be out jogging. I am a geezer foot racer, and not a bad one. Hurricaine Irma blew my dock loose, and I pulled a hamstring getting it back in place.
That means more time for sitting on the porch with beer to kill the pain.
The last photos were Turtles, and today I got a better one of the Musk Turtle. My chair is about 50 foot away, and I am too injuried/lazy to walk down there for a better photo.
He is a cute little guy. Actually he is about full grown. They don't get too big. I have no idea how, when, or why he went into the pond. They don't bask much, mostly stay in the water.
Here is my trio of Sliders again.
I love to watch these guys! Those tiny eyes are excellent. They can see me way up here and don't like me to move (but right now I need another beer for the hamstring
).
These Sliders can get over a foot long, and I regularly see huge ones in my lake. They are strong swimmers. In some countries they are illegal as they can take over an area. I been around them all my life and believe we cannot have too many. I put these three in my 4000 gallon pond last year. They spent the Winter submerged. When the water gets below 50 they disappear. My water is now 73. Unlike my Musk Turtle and my Snapping Turtle, these guys, love to sit in the Sun and let the heat help digest their food.
What do my Turtles eat?
In with them are 6 huge KOI about ten pounds each, and many large Gold Fish. The Turtles are too little to eat them.
I throw quality KOI food in most days. The Turtles like that. Also at night I have a large bug light with no bottom just over the water that drops bugs in. After dark, the fish, the turtles, and the frogs gather there. They eat tons of bugs. They love fresh bugs.
The fish, the turtles, and the frogs are too fat, so I know no one is going hungry.
It is underway. I know because a couple days ago saw an UFB (unidentified flying bird) that was a Warbler on the yellow side.
Today on the porch as Kelly Flint sings, have seen 2 UFBs. One on the yellow side and one on the grey side.
I could guess at them, but no need. In time they will return.
Post your sightings, and if possible - photos.
One year some of us had great fun with Fall Migration.
http://yardcraphome.com/showthread.p...D-BIRD-CONTEST
I was sure I had 3 Re-eared Sliders as I see them all the time. The love to sit in the Sun.
I also seem to have some strangers.
I don't know how he found my small pond, but there is a small Snapping Turtle in the Frog Pond. Maybe that is why the Frogs moved out?
I see I also have a small Musk Turtle in the Koi Pond. They too seldom come out of the water, but here he is on a shady perch.
I find my porch to be a very interesting place. Maybe I am just easily entertained.
Jacintha is on my music speakers, and lots of Turtles are about.
It is a cool (76) day, and I am on the porch.
All the usual suspects are out here (Cardinals, Titmice, Chicadees, Nuthatches, Finches, Wrens).
A bird I don't see much dropped by - Indigo Bunting.
Generaly I see a few in Spring. They live in this area all Summer, but after an early visit, seldom show back at my feeders. I don't know why. I guess the food is more tasty in the woods.
No matter as I have this guy here today. He does not look to be a "spring chicken", but what do I know?
I have many brilliant Indigo photos, but they would not be of this old guy who came by today.
I had some fun with the Eclipse, hope you did too! I hope you will post here about it here in comments or email me some photos and tales of your day.
This is a bird blog, and my goal was to capture birds during the Eclipse.
Ha Ha, actually my goal was to get drunk, play music too loud and watch girls dance naked. (2 of 3 happened, so calling it a win)
My dock floats and boats were making waves, so photos were impossible. Experts said a tripod was a must for this endeavor, but the bouncing dock did not work well with a tripod. After a case of cold beer, my hands were bouncing too, so I used the loud music get a sync rhythm going and got some fun photos.
To start, here is my Bride looking at me, and yelling that I had had enough beer (not possible). I could not hear her over my music, but got this reflection photo from her glasses.
I got a couple photos good enough to show something was happening with the SUN. I also launched a lot of fireworks to entertain the folks on the lake. Considering I just had my little "bird camera" on a bouncing dock - not to bad ~ These look much different at around original 15-20 megapixels as opposed to cut dow here to a few KB, but yall can get the drift.
On the Dock today at a fun 90 degrees. I had my cooler, my water hose, my umbrella, and of course my music. Today I was playing some Albert King too loud (like that is possible).
The Swallows were active and soon forgot I was there. Maybe they like Albert? Everybody likes Albert.
They sweep the lake at high speed collecting bugs to bring back to the feed the family. If you don't want flying bugs around your yard, invite these guys over.
Here is Pop with a bug in his mouth:
-- and here is Mom looking out at me:
I believe she wants me turn up the tunes?
I bet most of you did not know how colorful these guys are. In action they are spectacular!
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Squirrels STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: squirrels UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/05/squirrels.html DATE: 05/26/2017 03:31:14 PM ----- BODY:I do like and enjoy my squirrels. I have been feeding them for decades. My job is to give them guidance as to where to nibble. Their job seems to be to tell me -
In Winter I have a billion birds, but in Summer only a million.
To take up the entertainment slack, a young squirrel has decided I am no threat and comes to the CatBird house when I do as I bring peanuts. He has a buddy that also comes, but is more wary.
He is cute:
My cat Prancy is in her chair and watches. Crazy is aggressive when out here, and the squirrel wonders WTF? Crazy is about 15 pounds and prancy is 7 pounds, but she is the deadly one and boss of the house. As long as she just watches, all are happy.
Here is my Turtle Pond today as Summer approaches:
My Bride gave me this metal screen for my Frog Pond on my birthday - I like it!
Now the tiny squirrel is drinking water from the ant moat at a Humming Bird feeder even though I have a lot of water feeders out here.
Life in South Carolina is the best.
I was lying in bed and out the window saw a Black and White Warbler. I don't see them often, so watching him jump around was a treat. I did snap a poor photo through the window and sreeen. I'll get better ones over the Summer.
My cats love that window. Here is the photo before the crop:
Cool. crisp 70 degree day on the lake. Three birds were causing comotion. Maybe an Eagle? Way too far off to tell, my Bride said they were Buzzards but not me. I got a couple photos and now that I have blown them up, see two were Red-tailed Hawks and one was an Osprey. I don't think I have seen these two types together before. My life is very good.
I have a decent but not expensive Olympus camera I bought used. I have a good tele lens. It is amazing they could auto focus that far away on a bird in flight, and this was from a moving boat.
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Cat got me up at dawn as usual, and for a change I stayed up. I repotted some plants, and then ran 5 miles at a good clip throwing in several 1/4s. I have been feeling sluggish lately, and today was better. My arches have been acting up for about two weeks and have me limping all day.
I rebalanced my branch. It sinks as my hill decays. I need to build a frame, but too much work for now. I say that about every six months. All this patch work is silly and hard. I need more energy.
With achey muscles, sat down here on the porch with one of my cats.
Two Wrens kept yelling at us. I figured they were looking for a nesting area. Wrens pick strange places, and I never know where they will pick. Most years they pick the worst places, and I end up doing what I can to help protect them from weather and preditors.
I was wrong, they were not looking.
They not only already have a spot, they are already feeding their brood. I guess they don't have calendar. This year it is in the side of my Palm Tree. It is about 15 foot from me, so this will be fun. For a change, they chose a good nesting spot. Probably lots of spiders in there, and Wrens love spiders. This early, doubt any snakes will find them as snakes aint moving around too good yet due to cold nights.
The young are just below the beak, I can see them when they reach for food. I should be able to get some fun photos right from my chair.
The freeze dried meal worm bowl is just several feet from the nest (see previous post). They take the worms and dip them in the water, then fly down into the yard before returning to feed the young. I guess that is so me and the cat will not discover the nest.
Unrelated, snapped this photo of what I consider a rather handsome frog. I have a few frogs and turtles now up in my ponds.
This will be a long post but no one is forced to endure it. I did not go to a foot race today and instead am in the 'CatBird Perch' with 37 bottles of Pilsner Urquell. Dave Brubeck is playing the tunes today.
Like most nuts who have been feeding birds for years, I have accumulated many feeders. I bought some, made some, and people gave me some.
I rotate them around depending on the seasons, my needs, and my whims. At any time I have many in use, and many not needed.
As seasons change, so do my needs.
I hate to vist someone and see their feeder empty. How much trouble is it for one to put out a little food for their birds? Birds don't need our help, but they do seem to appreciate it. They are "flying flowers". An empty feeder should be removed it cast bad on your garden and you.
There are many types of feeders, and I am always on the lookout for anything different or better. I surely do not need more, but WTF? If nothing else, they make excellent yard decorations, especially if birds are using them.
As I see it, there are three types:
- tube
- hopper
- specialty
TUBE style is good for feeding seed to many types of birds. Tube feeders tend to keep seed drier. They are easy to maintain -> buy these type until you are no longer "casual" as to backyard bird feeding.
I have many from 12 inches to 5 foot long. I used to prefer the squirrel proof ones, but am way past that these days. I modified one that will now hold 30 pounds! I only have need of it a couple months a year. I mainly use tubes to feed Sunflower to the Finches (Purple, Gold, and House) but many birds drop in at them. Sunflower hulls accumulate, so I have these hanging off the end of my deck where the hulls fall unseen behind a large Evergreen.
I use a few small tube feeders near where I sit and put shelled Sunflower, and Safflower in them.
I find using a tray or seed catcher under all tube feeders is a must. Birds toss a few for every seed they choose. If these land on a tray, they are eaten "hopper style". Birds will eat seed which falls on the ground, but often that spoils before they get to it, not to mention I have 3 cats! A seed catcher will quickly pay for itself and also draw more birds -- which is the point of "birdfeeding".
HOPPER style is to mimic ground feeding. Most birds will/do eat on the ground. They "hop around" hense the name. These are my favorite type. They can be elaborate or just seed spread on your deck rail, on an old plate, or anywhere.
I have made a few large ones.
I made that large feeder from Cedar. On both edges added chicken feeders for some Sunflower. The middle try holds millet, the roof feeder gets what ever I feel like adding. The hanging green feeder is for "in the shell" peanuts which my Blue Jays notice quickly. The baffle is to keep out the coons and possums.
Here is another large one:
The best way to make these (large or small) is to build a floor frame and first stretch hardware wire over it. Then put screen wire over that as birds don't like large holes. The seed can drain off rain, and it is very durable. Then just add a roof. Buying one is $300+ and making one is $50 and worth a $1000.
I have bought a few smaller ones.
They can hang like tube feeders. Here is one just 12 inches under a nice rain guard my Bride gave me. Inside today is chopped peanuts. This feeder is in constant use and only 6 foot from my right foot. The birds are used to me and could care less.
Here is the same type feeder (but under my CatBird roof) with Safflower. The orange feeder behind it is actually a water feeder, but I have meal worms in it for my Carolina Wren. Behind that is a store bought suet feeder for Woodpeckers (no one eats there). Yes that is a Cyclamen, and I know it will not prosper there, just adding some temporary color so Hummingbirds can find me.
I just cleaned these small feeders that line my deck rail here in the Catbird Perch.
These are small feeders that hug the deck. I throw anything into them. Below is my SOLO stove on the floor keeping me cozy out here today. Along the rail you can see electric wire that keeps critters off my CatBird Perch feeders. The power is only that of a dog collar, and I get zapped all the time. It does work. I don't mind feeding the critters, but when they tear things up - nobody eats. This is the best solution I have ever found to protect the feeders.
You can put anything on hopper style feeders, and most birds will eat from them.
SPECIALITY feeders are those which serve maybe one bird or one type food. Humminbird feeders, fruit feeders, nut feeders, and my favorite - suet feeders all fall in to this group. Water feeders fall here too and they are special. Once I added old fruit to attract flies to attract "Flycatchers". It was a mess. No need as my Flycatchers can fend for themselves quite nicely on the South.
This feeder is just a piece of firewood I drlled some 1" holes in. It might be my favorite feeder. Into the holes I stuff a mixture of lard, peanut butter, and corn meal. Everybody eats that, even I find it to be tasty.
Either you feed a suet type mixture or you miss out on many interesting birds. It is that simple. Nothing I have found works as well as an old log.
Water feeders are a "must" if you want to attract birds. From my porch chair I look over a 950 mile shoreline lake and my four garden water features.
The big pond is 4000 gallons and has been healthy now for 10 years. In it are about 20 of the Gold Fish in the photo and 6 Koi that are now ten years old and about ten pounds. Also, as this is the 'Turtle Pond' - some turtles. This might be the best Garden pond (for happy critters) in America.
Behind me on the deck is a bubbling fountain.
That sits against one of my large 5'X6' windows and has been entertaining now for about 15 years. It is not a big bird magnet, but the tree frogs love it.
I have some good water crap. If I did not like it, would change it. The birds have a lot of water here. They drink from all of it. I don't "need" water feeders, but the deal is not about "need". It is about attracting birds near so you can enjoy them. My water feeders do that. Put out water feeders. I have tried a few types, and I most like the shallow ones that are easy to clean and fill. I dip water from the fountain, and in a few seconds, these are ready to go.
Birds like that better than the lake.
My cats even drink from these:
Put out some water. No one ever listens when I preach that. Put out some water!
Just noticed I posted all these quick photos and none have birds in them.
All photos are snapped today from my CatBird Chair. No big deal, just read old and new posts, and you will see these (and other) feeders attracting many birds. My backyard bird list is way over a hundred. I buy seed on sale and often will pick up a couple hundred pounds. (don't ask as to what I come home with from my beer trips).
Keep in mind that my favorite feeders are home made. Time on the porch will help you discover what works at your place. I have been improving mine for decades now, and I still am a novice. Feeders are a huge part of the fun as to this hobby.
I spent much of the morning cleaning my Turtle Pond filters. I do it a couple times a year. The pond has run mostly trouble free now for over ten years. I am an actual pond expert, not an internet expert. Most of what you read there is repeated crap. Contact me if you need advice, or join yardcraphome.com where I post.
My plan is to run a footrace in two days, but now here I am on the porch drinking beer. That does not bode well as my belly is already too fat. If I show, I will not just be the oldest one there, but the fattest. I will still place near the front as most are not good at racing anymore. That is sad.
I saw this in the bushes after I sat down:
In days of old, I had Yellow-rumped Warblers jumping around my feeders all Winter. This year seeing one is rare. I have not seen one at a feeder. This one is catching bugs around the Frog Pond.
Warblers eat bugs, so put out suet to attract them.
Also snapped this Screech Owl earlier. I have a million good photos of them, but this aint one.
They always nested in a house near my chair, so I put up a fancy new house for them. They don't like it and are in a different one where I can't see them as often.
This Chicadee seems to be checking out this new expensive and "improved " house. I put three up and am hoping they are used. Most likely they will return to the same old houses they always use.
So will I drink beer or do the foot race?
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Cat's Lament STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: cats-lament UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/03/cats-lament.html DATE: 03/26/2017 03:12:22 PM ----- BODY:We all love to post photos of Male Cardinals as these boys really light up the yard. With decent binoculars or a porch feeder, one can see the females are also extrodinary with color. Here is one taking a bath in my branch.
My cat 'Crazy' decied to join her for a group swim, but was too late. She refused to mingle.
No matter, he will just check underneath to see if the Chipmunk is home and wants to play.
It is time to put out the Hummingbird Feeders.
The tiny guys will have traveled for thousands of miles and deserve a little help.
Here in my yard they generally arrive the first Days of April, but have showed up early.
When I think on the brave journey they make, it brings tears to my eyes.
Put your feeder out right now, not in a hour, right now. I have out two and soon will up that to a dozen.
Mean while this White Throat is in my yard.
Unfortunately he will soon be leaving me. My Winter birds will be leaving and the Summer crowd arriving.
A couple turtles woke up in my pond. My pond is 10x15 and holds 4000 gallons. The Koi in there are huge and 10 years old.
The Turtles sleep at the bottom in Winter. It is good to see these alive and looking OK.
I have been lax as to posting, but not lax as to watching my birds. I saw a movie last night that was fun -- 'Bird Men'. The "real" expert got upset when his colleague called it "bird watching" and not "Birding". He would really hate a guy like me.
Out here on the porch with Diana Krall playing too loud and just saw a Song Sparrow. This is normally a common everyday bird here in Winter, but scarce for me this year. That is sad as it is the bird most often in the water entertaining all. Also, other ground migrants are less for me this year like the Junco and White-throat.
Here is a year around ground bird - the Rufous-sided Towhee.
Here is a Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Back now to Diana and a bottle of Urquell. Yall should really check out both. One of my cats is on my/her lap keeping me warm - Prancy. She likes "ground birds" but as a favor to me -- from a distance.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Birds attract Birds STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: birds-attract-birds UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2017/01/birds-attract-birds.html DATE: 01/30/2017 01:58:33 PM ----- BODY:Most times now there are around 50 Goldfinch here in my yard.
They breed in Fall as opposed to Spring so numbers drop till Winter brings them back in numbers.
They like Sunflower and I keep out a lot of it in large tube feeders. They are active and fun to watch. They will color back up in Spring.
With them and the Chipping Sparrows, the yard is always packed with birds in Winter.
Their numbers and activity draw in many other bird types who might otherwise not notice my yard.
Holidays are over, CLEMSON won the National Championship, so time to get back to my Porch Bird Watching. Today it is cloudy, but warm at 50degrees -> very nice. Jesse Cooke is playing too loud over my music system.
I have a few bottles of Pilsner Urquell.
It is a good time to spend an hour seeing who is about. Two cats are out here fighting for my lap, that is not going to help.
The constant suspects are here:
1- Chicadee
2- Titmouse
3- Gold Finch
4- House Finch
5- Purple Finch
All my Nuthatches are around. They are friendly birds, even land on the feeders as I fill them. These guys are really active and greatly add to the fun as they steal seed and pack it in the Elm Tree bark. The Red is visiting me this Winter and is nearly tame, pays no attention even to the cats. The other two are year 'round.
6- Red-headed Nuthatch
7- White-headed Nuthatch
8- Brown-headed Nuthatch
I only have maybe 5 Pine Warblers, shame as this might be my favorite Winter bird due to being a constant porch friend. Nothing says "Winter" here on the porch more than the arrival of the Pine Warblers. They love my suet mix and chopped peanuts.
9- Pine Warbler
The Chipping Sparrows are at the yard feeders - maybe 50 right now. Over a normal Winter they will help the Junco, White-throat, Song, and Field Sparrows go through around 150 pounds of white millet.
10- Chipping Sparrow
11- Field Sparrow
12- White-throated Sparrow
I don't know why, but to date no Juncos or Song Sparrows have showed. For now I will blame it on the damn wind mills that assholes are using to produce very expensive electricity. I am not a fan (pun intended).
Cardinals are drifting in. I am blessed with a lot of them. My yard has lots of berry bushes and lots of feeders. They are the first birds to hit the window feeder next to my bed everyday. My yard would be a lot less corlorful without these guys, and I don't just mean the males.
13-Southern Cardinal
A Kinglet is down at the branch. Tiny bird gleans bugs in the tree branchs and will come to the feeder for suet mix.
14- Ruby-crowned Kinglet - have the 'Golden' too, but have no seen one so far.
The Jays are raising hell as they like to anounce as they hit the water or the feeders. That woke up my cat. I have out some peanuts in the shell, and that is a magnet for them.
15- Blue Jay
16- Hermit Thrush is taking a bath.
17- Turkey Vultures are over the lake as usual, maybe some 'Blacks in the mix, cant tell from here.
18- Mourning Dove - a few visit for the millet - beautiful bird!
19- Fish Crow are now on the shore. They keep things neat down there and don't bother my feeders at all.
Woodpeckers - seen two so far, and they are a constant in the yard. I have 5 types, but the two always around are:
20- Red-bellied (cat favorite at the bedroom window feeder due to being so vocal)
21- Downey - very tame
Its been about an hour so am posting this. As the beer aint yet exhausted, might/should see more.
I may have more types of birds in Summer, but for numbers - Winter is king. Off the porch there are always many, many birds.
Did I mention CLEMSON is the National Champion.
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I understand this is not a photo most would post as the lighting is all wrong. I don't care. I have many very good photos from past years but --
I am blessed to live on a large lake. I can see it everyday from where I write this - my porch.
Saw these guys in the cove, walked down and snapped this photo. My lake is part of the Savanah River which is a bird "flyway". I don't see as many water birds as one will on the coast, but most visit me. In Winter almost any bird might drop by.
Coots are fun to watch as they go underwater to hunt. They are very active.
An interesting thing happened here a few years back. Our Eagles were dying. I moved here because I am a fan of CLEMSON. Students there discovered that Coots were eating posion plants and the Eagles eating them died. The plants were cleaned out and all is now again balanced. How cool is that?
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Red-winged Blackbird STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: red-winged-blackbird UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/12/red-winged-blackbird.html DATE: 12/12/2016 01:40:19 PM ----- BODY:I have been too busy to play here for a few days.
The Bride looked out the widow and saw this guy on the porch.
I snapped that through the window - not too bad! My house has large windows like a store front. Being inside is kinda like being outside.
Later he came to the pond.
I see these rarely. It is a nice bird with a distintive call. He eats most of the seed types at the feeeders, but seldom shows.
Here on the porch I play CHRISTMAS music from T-day until CHRISTMAS. I have a large collection. The birds love it.
It really aint Winter until my million Chipping Sparrows arrive. It seems like they are not coming so cranked up a new album too loud.
Plácido Domingo, Sissel Kyrkjebø, and Charles Aznavour – 'Christmas In Vienna'.
Got this in durning Summer and have refused to play it until December, but ~~~
Aznavour and Domingo are well known to me (and most people) but had nothing of Kyrkjebø.
Her voice is clear and wonderful. Holding her own with these guys is no problem.
She has the sparkle of a Julie Andrews.
As it plays, this guy showed up :
How cool is that?? Can Santa be far behind, or at least a Junco?
One of my 6 woodpecker types.
The Flickers are here all year and are fun to watch. Lately they have been on the other side of my house in the large Oak Trees. Now for some reason they are coming to where I cut off a limb last year in the Elm Tree which is near my chair. I have no idea what they are eating out of that hole unless some ants are way up there. Sometimes two are eating from the hole at the same time.
Most times I see these guys on the ground under the Oak Trees.
These are not good photos, but good for today.
Not being good today is Prancy who is down at the Branch. I don't think think she is looking to take a bath, what could she be up to? I know she would never bother my White Throats?
Waxwings are showing up. I have them all year, but the flocks come in more often in late Winter for the berries. They often flock with the Robins in Winter. Later on they will come in by the dozens.
My Bride claims they look like aliens from outer space.
His name might say "common", but the bird is surely not common as to good looks.
A couple times a year a few drop by, wish they came more often as they are fun to watch. Normally they eat a little millet and are off. Today they were in for water.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Hiking Group STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: hiking-group UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/11/hiking-group.html DATE: 11/22/2016 01:49:43 PM ----- BODY:
I was invited to join a hiking group this week. http://hikingsouth.com/
Just got back, and it was fun. I will go again. I thought I might see some new birds, but we made too much noise. More so I guess it is the movement as me playing tunes here on the deck doesn't bother them all. I saw a few ducks.
I have a 'Winter Wren' -> backyard bird #125. He has been around a couple weeks, but I never paid attention thinking it was one of my favorite birds - the Carolina Wren. I took this photo and whoa !! hold the boat.
Zoom in and there he is:
Be still my heart less I expire from excitment.
I know I keep posting birds at the water holes, but right now that is where the action is!
I believe it is likely I have more feeders with more different food types than most of yall. I have kept them well stocked for 15 years, always changing things out and looking for new foods to attract. I spare no effort and spend too much.
Right now my woods are full of fresh seeds, acorns, berries, insects, etc. My feeders cannot compete. --- but, birds need water, and I have that. My yard has birds all day due to them coming in to drink. That is kinda strange as sitting here as I write this on my porch, I am looking at Lake Hartwell. Birds drink there too, but now many prefer my tiny, safe venue. All backyard bird watchers need to put out a bowl of water. It is cheap and effective.
I have year-round Red-bellied Woodpeckers. They eat suet at the bedroom bird feeder EVERY day 24/27/365. Most mornings they wake me up. During breeding, they carry off chunks to the nest. All the present ones were raised on my suet mix. They drive the cats crazy as they like to announce their arrival. My cat 'Crazy' waits for them to arrive and then crashes his body into the window to scare them.
It is rare when they come to any feeder I have with in view of my 'Catbird Chair'. Like all birds and all critters, they require water. You can attract all birds with no food, just water.
I have great photos of this guy, but these today are not bad if you consider they are 1600 iso. As leaves fall away, more 'light' will flood in, but unfortunately it will always be at the back. I am not complaining, just explaining, as I don't know of a better chair to sit in if you are a backyard bird watcher. Still, these meet my goal of "good enough" to ID the bird. Actually I think they are as fun as it gets.
Here is the guy as he jumped down beside a House Finch for a drink:
Just as I posted below about the Hermit Thrush, a Thrasher arrived.
The two look a little alike. The Brown Thrasher is bigger, has a yellow eye, and is streaked on the breast as opposed to spotted.
The Brown Thrasher lives with me all year. He is a great singer. He likes dense brush for a home. I have that as not only do I have bushes, I pile my up my yard trimmings in a few spots as opposed to burning like most I know do. Many birds are attracted to brush piles.
Dang, a Pileated Woodpecker just dropped by as I am writting this but got spooked before I got a photo. Maybe tommorrow?
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Hermit Thrush STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: hermit-thrush UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/11/hermit-thrush.html DATE: 11/04/2016 02:53:26 PM ----- BODY:This guy arrived to spend the winter with me a couple weeks back. He shows every Winter as long as I have lived here.
I don't know why he is called "hermit" as he is not that.
He really likes the berry bushes in my yard. He is a frequent visitor to the frog pond.
My Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are still hanging around. Maybe they will Winter here? (nope)
I have Blue Jays. They tend to stay up high and not visit my feeders often. They fly over and scream like hawks to annoy the other birds. They are very entertaining. They like peanuts in the shell. They love acorns.
Here is one down today for water:
The photo is not the best, but anyone can see this is a very good looking bird. For people who like a 'blue bird', the Blue Jay is hard to top. It is hard to find a better looking bird, or a more interesting one.
Am I the king of my tiny world? Nope, the critters are.
My new camera lens is working out OK. It is 300mm, but 4/3, so effectively 600mm. With a sideline pass, could do Clemson Football games. Until I get one, will sit on the porch and use it on my critter photos.
It don't do close up(?), but as I get used to it, quite good across the yard.
I was sitting here and noticed a frog in a tiny bird bath. The bath is small and mounted on a porch rail support. How the hell did he hop in there?
(This is just 4 foot from my feet. I switched the lens to manual, and it did good. The field of view is of course small, but the focus is OK).
Apparently the tiny frog is "king" of this tiny puddle. He sat in there waiting on bugs to show as I played music too loud.
Maybe it is the same one I posted earlier about sitting on a hummingbird feeder waiting on food to arrive.
This is a smart frog!
Here he is leaving:
Damned good looking frog !!
I guess he climbs better than he hops? You can use the screw head as reference to see how small he is.
Sitting on the porch is never ending fun! I am the King on the porch, or at least a court jester.
In now from Canada:
My first White-throated Sparrow has been spotted. I generally have a few of these arrive to spent the Winter. They mix in with the Song Sparrows, and Juncos as my main ground birds. They grab some leaves and scrape back to hunt for bugs. They all eat millet at my feeders.
From a distance, this bird will go unnoticed, but put your binoculars on him and he "pops". The yellow eyebrows shine like beacons. It is a very striking bird. I really need him around for Winter entertainment.
Saw a thing on a news site about the 10 best binoculars for hunting. It was interesting, but WTF?
I have had a bino in my hand every day for decades. There is no "best".
Any bino is better than no bino, much better. One cannot really do much bird watching without one.
One place to start might be to decide how much you are willing to spend. There are very good binos in many price ranges. The truth is that today a "cheap" bino might excel beyond what one costing much more would have ten years back. To that end, don't over look store brands.
The place to begin is to go to a store and look through as many as possible. Have some fun, then come home and search the web for the best price.
A bino good for one is not as good for another person. We have different needs, different hands, different opinions. I have a few pair, and all are quite different in size and price. I use them all, can't think of one I could give away -- in fact would like to have more. I have a pair handy in every room, keep a pair out here on the porch, and of course in my Jeep. If you don't have a pair, your first pair should fit many situations. Figure out what that is to buy the "best" for you.
The ones I use on the porch are excellent, but I prefer a much smaller pair when walking in the woods. I use a different pair when on my boat.
Here is the deal:
- weight can be important. A pair too heavy will not be fun. I am a big guy, but prefer small when on the move. Here on the porch, use a heavier pair as I am seated and can brace my elbows against my body. A small "quality" 10X32 can be amazing. My porch pair is 12X50 and just shames the view coming from my high end HD television.
- way back when waterproof and rugged was good, but now most of them are that. I like a rubber coating, but that is not a deal breaker. They should feel good in your hands, and today most are designed with that goal. Handle them. Don't buy what does not please as to feel.
- focus range is important. All focus to ~, but I am talking how close they will focus. Closer focus generally runs the price up some. A bino can also be a sort of microscope for looking at butterflys on a flower or a bird who has landed on your foot. I would say go for at least ten foot. My porch pair do only that, and it is a trade off for the 50 foot view, but I would prefer 5 ft.
- power is what many look at first, but maybe should not. Binos are marked 'powerXobjective lens size' (8x32, 10X42, etc). The first number deals most with magnification and the second with ability to gather light. A larger objective lens lets in more light. The truth is the quality of the lens is the important thing as to power and light gathering.
Most 'experts' say birders should go 8 power. That is because the higher the power, the harder to hold still for a good view. Mine are all 10 or 12 power and I have no problem.
- quality lens is the deal for bird watching. The goal is to look at the bird and see detail. You must give to get. To that end, figure what the bino will be needed for most (close up, far away, low light, portability, etc). The biggest difference in the view you get from a bino is the quality of the lens. Like in all areas of life, there is a breaking point where you pay a lot more for smaller and smaller increments of improvement.
So what should you by?
Decide what you will use them for, then go to a store and play with all the ones in that category. A safe way if that option is not available to you is to go with the major brands. I find binos are one item where ebay does not work as well. I like to buy used crap, but most people with an excellent bino do not sell them, even when they upgrade. Still you might find a deal there from an estate sale. My first pair was $20 from a pawn shop, and I was hooked. My last pair cost - "ha ha" not going there as my Bride might read this.
A good place to shop is Eagle Optics
The service from these guys is unmatched. Their house brand "Ranger" is a best buy.
The important thing is to get your self some binos so you can see the birds.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Blue-headed Viero STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: blue-headed-viero UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/10/blue-headed-viero.html DATE: 10/25/2016 02:57:59 PM ----- BODY:My "safe space" was invaded by my Bride. As I am not of a generation who gives a crap or even understands "safe spaces", I just rolled with it. Being happy for the company, I insisted she sit in the 'Catbird chair'. I even gave her my camera and after showing her which button to push, saw a Goldfinch land in the Azalea bush behind the frog pond. Her first two photos were of that. She got dialed in some, and as the birds came in, had some fun (and got a few good photos).
I loaded her photos in to computer (keep one here on the porch) and WTF!!
The distant Goldfinch of her first two photos turned out to be a new bird for the yard.
It is a Blue-headed Viero, and bird sighting #124 for my (our?) yard.
It does not seem right that I am in the game for years, and her first photo is a new bird.
No matter, I am very excited as to it all.
From the web:
"The Blue-headed Vireo is a common and vocal bird of northeastern forests. Formerly lumped as a "Solitary Vireo" with the more western Plumbeous and Cassin's vireos, it is now considered a separate species."
Most breed in Canada and Winter in in the deep South. Some are scattered over the Blue Ridge, so I guess I might see one any time of year (but I never have). They are bug eaters and not feeder birds. This one dropped by for water. I keep harping on water as a yard attractant. It is a big deal if you want to see more birds.
Maybe the Bride is "good luck"? I hope she visits again in a couple years.
Raise your hand if a Mockingbird lives in your yard.
My hand is not up.
My yard is bird friendly, but in my many years here, never had a Mockingbird move in. They do live nearby and visit.
I don't see often see them in Summer, but come Winter, constantly as my berry bushes are to much to resist. It escapes me why they have not become a suet visitor, or why none have nested here.
Here is one today dropping in to check on Holly berries and steal some water from the branch.
When I was 6, Pop gave me a Daisy BB gun. He told me not to shoot at his Mockingbird. As that bird was a favorite of Pop's, I hold it in high esteem.
The official name is 'Northern Mockingbird', but all I have seen in my yard are 'Southern Mockingbirds'. This guy eats bugs and berries. As I have a lot of both, he is drawn here daily in Winter.
This is one of the more intelligent birds. He is able to recognize individual humans. Crows can do that, maybe my Catbirds?.
His song is whatever he wants it to be as he is an excellent mimic. It would be cool if he started to repeat notes from 'FourPlay' which I have playing too loud out here right now.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Gold Finch STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: gold-finch UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/10/gold-finch.html DATE: 10/18/2016 03:43:46 PM ----- BODY:
The American Goldfinch is my most numerous bird except in Winter when the Chipping Sparrows arrive.
Most feeder birds like Sunflower, and this is the bird that eats most of what I put out.
Goldfinch breed late and while never missing from my yard, are just starting to return as a group. The plumage is getting toward Winter mode, but again with Spring, males will become brilliant.
This is a fun, fiesty little bird. Male and female are great parents. The diet even for the young is mostly vegan.
I believe they are one reason my yard attracts other birds. Birds see these guys at the feeder all day and investigate.
I have some great photos of Goldfinch in all stages of plumage, but this is the one snapped today at 50 foot.
Looked out the window and a bird was under my roof overhang. I snapped this poor photo just as he flew. It was just luck to get this.
This is the same window where a week or so back got a photo of an Eastern Peewee. The Least Flycatcher and the Peewee are similiar. I think I have two diferent birds.
The photos of both are poor (quick snaps out the window).
One main difference in the two is the eye ring (or lack there of).
Here are the two heads:
The photo does not show it, but ithe bird was quite dark on top and light below with wing bars.
All observations and thoughts are welcome.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Dirty Bird STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: dirty-bird UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/10/dirty-bird.html DATE: 10/16/2016 02:27:34 PM ----- BODY:A bath can be good, but sometimes we want to shower:
Finally some migrants who will hang with me over Winter are arriving.
Yesterday a Ruby-crowned Kinglet arrived, no photo yet, but soon. The trees are still full with leaves. I always have a few Ruby and Golden Kinglets to entertain me over Winter. They are tiny birds that skim tree branches for bugs. They are exrmely active.
Also, at least one Red-breasted Nuthatch came in. This is a rare treat, have not seen one here for maybe 5 years. He is on the Sunflower, suet, and today the peanut pieces. He will become tame if he hangs around. I have the wrong lens on for close in, but this is OK:
Also this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is on my tree. He will put holes in all my trees and shrubs until Spring. I'll be able to get good photos of him as the leaves fall away. All those dark holes in the tree are old damage from past years.
I had one male Grosebeak stop by. The juveniles have been around for about a week now (see earlier post). That seems to be normal for my yard every year, lots of females and kids, few males.
"Build it and they will come"
I enjoy the planning and the building. Often things don't work or in some cases, need seasonal adjustment. Some good ideas don't work out in practice.
I have had my 3 new bird things up for a week or so.
Changes came about from the initial plan during instalation. That is possible because the boss of me is me.
The plan was three "SAFE" 4X4X8 poles with a baffle, house, and topped with a feeder (more as an ornament and not to waste space). They are up, but the feeders are not where planned, and one pole has no feeder as I discovered I can't see that well from my chair. Crap!! I have too many feeders, so WTF? I did want more "safe" houses before Spring and intend to add more in the way of round, hanging houses which have a built in safety factor.
One thing I hate is to see people put up a crooked pole. That is because I have mental problems. If it works -> it works, but I can't deal with it, and will need to adjust one of mine.
Over all, my yard is improved as to my birds.
I only fell off the ladder twice and was never injured.
It all looks very good to me, hope the birds agree.
These are all 8 foot high as none are in the ground. If you build similiar, buy 10 foot poles so 2 foot can be in the ground (no crooked poles).
The unused new feeder is siting up here on an old "home made" feeder for now. Birds already like it!! This was bought crap, but to be honest, if you have the time and energy, stuff can be "home made"much cheaper" and "much better". Buying a large feeder like this with a durable screen floor would cost a bundle. Making it is cheap. The tiny "store bought" one on top is nice but cost more than the one below it which I made some years back.
Some birds I have seen in the yard today:
- Red-bellied Woodpecker - wakes me up everyday pounding the suet block in the window near my bed. These guys drive the cats crazy. I have a 2-way mirror there, birds can't see the cats, and cats can't get the birds.
- Cardinal - going into Fall, I again have a large flock of these.
- Titmouse
- Chicadee
- House Finch
- Downy Woodpecker
- Brown-headed Nuthatch
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Dove
- Blue jay
- Fishng Crow
- Black Vulture
- Gold Finch
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Carolina Wren
- Grey Catbird
- Mockingbird
- Chipping Sparrow - certain I just saw one back of the Frog Pond. One can show any time of year, but seldom till the Winter Flock arrive. Over Winter they are my most numerous bird. I stock in about 150 pounds of Millet, and they will eat most of it. In Winter, they keep my yard alive with action, always 50-100 out here. It is a great little bird.
Now where did he go? I live in the Blue Ridge Foothills, and almost any one can show at any time.
That is 18 and I have one more bottle of beer, so who knows?? My cat "Crazy" is now on my lap so it could be none. They don't mind me out here, but are not friendly to him which is a shame. Crazy likes 'Clara Ponty', so will put her on too loud as Crazy likes the tunes played loudly.
Lots of bird activity today. The Chickadee flock is growing, but no snow birds in it yet. None of my Winter friends have yet arrived.
I call my poch chair 'The Catbird Seat'. To that end, I call the addition I built on to my deck for it 'The Catbird House'.
In addition to the chair, I have many convience/fun items like a computer, an audio system, a small fridge, fans, tiny stove, etc. It is quite comfortable out here.
One thing I don't often have here is a real Catbird. Today I do. He is stealing Holly and Piracanter berries.
This one seems to be eating well, almost as fat as me.
They are a year-round resident, but I hear them more than see them.
Known as the 'Gray Catbird', it prefers dense bush, not open areas, and not feeders. It is very active and a loud singer who can mimic others. Often it sounds like one of my cats needing help.
Also today the new feeder I put suet mix in was discovered by Miss Downey. I believe this feeder will get a work out over Winter. It would be great if the Catbird took a liking to it, but I won't hold my breath.
Some of my critters are not birds.
I have a long list of critters who visit. (I keep a list)
In my pond I have very old Gold Fish and some Koi that might hit ten pounds.
I have turtles there -> a few Red-eared Sliders and a few Western Painted.
I have a million frogs of various types, and among them a few Bull Frogs I imported. Some of the frogs are enormous.
My dogs have passed including the 'love of my life' --> Rosey.
People tell me to get another dog, but you can't replace a best friend. She was surely that.
I have 3 cats who wandered in looking for a home. They take turns all day seeking my attention as their personalities are very different. Here is the King (in his mind) of this part of America --> Percy:
Not a bad photo at 50 foot! The cats keep me busy.
My critter list is long. I try to not be a nusiance to them as I try to not let them be a nusiance to me. I have learned a lot about this over the last years. Coons, possums, and 'you name it' show up back here in the woods. I am afraid of Coyote and Bear and Mt Lion as they see my critters as food. Also, no snakes are welcome here for the same reason. I know they are all part of the 'big plan', but let them plan in your yard, they are not welcome here.
My cats run free. Every day - EVERYDAY - I round them up as the Sun sets. At first light a couple are in the bed telling me quite forcefully to open the damn door. I have ten billion birds in the yard, and my fat cats are interested, but not much threat. It is kinda like how my Beagle --> Rosey used to go wild on seeing a Squirrel or Chipmunk, but then settled down to some degree.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Who Is This ? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: who-is-this- UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/10/who-is-this-.html DATE: 10/05/2016 04:13:18 PM ----- BODY:
Warblers are fun when they migrate by.
I was looking at a Cardinal in a bush and saw this guy.
Who is that?
He jumped out and I got a better photo.
Note there are no wing bars.
Note the eye ring is not much.
Note yellow head and yellow belly.
The bill is not black.
Birds do not have one color and they change with seasons. Males, females, and juveniles are different.
So who is this?
On the porch early licking my wounds as my morning run went poorly. One could say it is because I am old and fat, but it is just that my mind is not into it these days.
To cheer me up, Nuthatches just hit a feeder I put up this week.
Here is the White:
... and here is the Brown:
They are very different in appearence as the "Brown" is very tiny. Maybe he is the smallest bird not a Hummingbird. The Brown lives in old Pine Trees. I used to have a lot of them back here, but Pine Beatles have taken out about 25 of them leaving me just a couple. The Brown-headed Nuthatch has not yet abandoned me. This is a bird people travel thousands of miles to add to their life list. Your chances of seeing one from my chair is good any day of the year.
Both of these birds like feeders. Right now they are stealing Sunflower and hiding it in the bark of trees to eat this Winter. Both are noisy and nosey. At my feeders they like Sunflower, peanuts and suet. They have no problem with me being on the porch. As Winter approaches they will "flock" with the birds led by the Chicadee.
Snapped a photo out the window and caught this Eastern Peewee.
I am lucky when I see a fly catcher as they tend to hang out high in the trees.
The exception would be the Great-crested which generally uses one of my bird houses every Summer.
Flycatchers are not feeder birds. They sit and dart out to catch insects in mid flight. Once I put out some old fruit to rot and attact flies to attract flycatchers. It did not work for me, might be worth another try.
The Tufted Titmouse loves feeders, and if you live in the right half of America, you have them in your yard.
They do well because like their friend the Chicadee, they eat everything.
Anything new you put out, this will be the guy who inspects it first. My place would be dead with out 'Hooter' which is my name for them. This might sound strange, but I belive his favorite music is 'Beach Music'.
Year round, any day, any time, one of these will greet me on the porch in minutes. Mine are very tame. I wish I had a hundred. Like many birds, they spread out for nesting, but group up for Winter.
Here are the 'mice' in swimming today:
It is hard to have a favorite bird. I keep changing my mind.
Pretty much, my favorite bird is the one entertaing me most at the time. That changes season to season.
In Summer Hummingbirds take over my deck and in Winter Pine Warblers take up the slack. Neither cares when I come out and put my music on too loud. The Bride and the neighbors complain, but never my birds.
Many of my favorites are with me all year. I get to know them, know what they eat, where they will land, etc. They know me too.
If I had to choose (but I won't) it might be the Carolina Wren. He is the loudest bird in my yard (except the Pileated Woodpecker). The Fish Crows and Canada Geese make a racket, but this tiny bird has an octave range like Sarah Brightman. They have no fear of me, but I do wish they paid more attention to the cats. They always nest on the deck and never where I want them to.
They circle the house (my house is round) and inspect every crevice looking for bugs and spiders. They do eat my suet mix and some freeze dried worms from my feeders. They don't group up, so having more than two (except when the young hatch) is not normal.
Here is one of mine already on a new bird house I just put up:
I picked up a new camera lens and am playing with today. I use a 4/3 camera. The lens I have used the last years is 50-200 zoom which in 35mm terms is 100-400. It has been a best buy as to me having fun.
The new one I have today is 300 or 600 in 35mm terms. I only do hand held, so either of these should be a struggle to hold at distance which for me in my chair is generally around 50-75 feet. Since I am sitting on my ass, I do alright with no tripod. I don't want this to become work!! My photos have been adequate for my needs. My problem is lack of knowlege, not equipment.
I sit in shade and shoot into shade, so most days the camera is shooting at 1000 iso and higher which is less that ideal. Some days there is filtered Sun, and I get some 200 iso shots with shadows. No matter as it all amuses me.
The new lens is fixed and is made for distance. It will focus close, but I am finding it hard to find the subject matter in auto up close which is what I use. I'll have to get used to manual to get quick shots at my porch feeders. With a zoom, you can start wide and zoom in. As to yard shots, I know my area well enough to find a critter. One fun thing is there is now a lazer to mount on the camera like for your gun. I don't think that would help in my yard, but it might in strange places or on the lake. If like me you often use binoculars, finding the critter with the screen is not hard.
Below are a few first attempts with the lens:
Here is aa new feeder/birdhouse on an 8 foot pole about 20 foot from my feet. With my old zoom lens, I could show a lot of it, with the new only this much. Still, I believe we could agree that even with my old shakey hands, this lens is quite good. That is a block of my homemade suet and some peanuts to break in this feeder. Since it sits over the Turtle pond, will try to resist adding seeds to it as hulls would fall into the pond.
This about 50 foot into dark shade at high iso - and remember - hand held after a couple bottles of excellent beer:
Into Sun as I sit in shade:
This one is not too bad, especially if you could see it at full megapixel before it is cut down to KBs to post here:
At first glance even before I learn to use it, one can see that good photos with this lens might be possible once I get the hang of it.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Got some of these today - STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: got-some-of-these-today- UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/09/got-some-of-these-today-.html DATE: 09/29/2016 03:51:41 PM ----- BODY:This is a very common bird at feeders unless you live where I do. I get them as they migrate in Fall and Spring. I live on the line where South Carolina and Georgia meet at the Blue Ridge Mountains. I live right on the line, can see Georgia from my porch chair. It is the nearby mountains and the river that make my place a very good place to watch birds. All most anything might show up.
Today I got these:
You may be used to the adult who looks like this: Those will be here by morning or the next day. I always get Juveniles and Females first.
These are first year migrants, one male and one female. Others will be showing up soon as my yard is a stop over feeding point as they head to South America. (That is amazing) I have out lots of SunFlower seed, but these two are at my frog pond for water. They are large enough to be (maybe) OK there. I have some monster Bull Frogs, and the smaller birds know to keep away until the temps cool.
My yard has a large Turtle Pond, a smaller Frog Pond and a Branch Pond. The large pond (4000 gal) seldom is used by birds. The Frog Pond (220 gal) and the Branch (100 gal) are in constant use by birds. You would think in Winter it would be less, but no - it is more. On the coldest days they are in there splashing around like they were ducks. About 200 feet away is a lake where there are all types of Ducks and water birds. I have never seen one at my crap. You would think a Heron or the Fish Crows would drop by, but nope. I guess compared to the large lake, my crap is not much of an attraction. No matter as the birds think it to be excellent.
Here on the porch I have a running fountain that is not used much. Where I sit (CatBird House) I keep a few tiny water feeders, and the small birds make constant use of them. Actually, I added two more today.
Let me snap a photo if my camera will focus that close -
It is best for me to keep Water feeders small on the porch and just for drinking. The bath area is in the yard. A shallow bowl is easy to keep up as all you need do is dump a beer glass of water in, and it is flushed and ready to go. Water is a big deal for birds.
When I started my Bird Garden 15 years back, had none of these but did have a few Purple Finch. Now I have many, many, maybe too many? House Finch.
The male is a colorful redish. Perhaps the female is dull as she must sit unseen on the nest.
These are happy little birds. They are the same size as a Gold Finch and have about the same diet. At the feeders, they prefer seeds. Any seed is Ok with them. They also eat buds and berries.
I have them all day every day. You have probably seen the feeders with ports where the Gold Finch has to hang upside down to eat. House Finch can't do that.
Feeding the Finches is no big deal during most of the year (the same is true of most birds). In Winter, they can eat ever how much you put out. I seldom buy Niger any more, just regular and shelled Sun Flower. I generally pick up as much as my Jeep can carry when it goes on sale.
Finches eat most of the food at my place. I like them (who could not?), and their activity draws in many other birds who might not visit.
My two most numerous birds are Gold Finch and House Finch. Some times when we have a lot of 'this or that' we forget how special and interesting they are as individuals. Finches are fiesty and loud. I like them.
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: He Is Back !! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: he-is-back- UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/09/he-is-back-.html DATE: 09/25/2016 02:33:14 PM ----- BODY:This bird is a tough one (maybe not for you). I know what it is (?) as I have this puzzle every year.
He is back today and took a bath.
About the best thing a 'porch bird watcher' can do is get off his ass long enough to build a water feature. Many birds don't come to feeders, but all come to water. My yard borders on a 150 mile shoreline, but many birds choose my crap over that. I put in lots of cover and lots of places to land. Places to land are very important as birds like to look things over before they 'plunge'. Hollies are good as they provide all that, and as a bonus produce berries. Shallow is best. Moving is great. I also have a deep turtle/koi pond, and birds hate it.
This could be a Tenneessee Warbler. Probably it is a Pine Warbler or maybe not a warbler --> Yelllow-throated Vireo? It is a dead match for a young Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Here he is getting reqady to 'plunge':
It is yellowish on the head and back on into the tail. It has a solid eye ring. It has two prominmante yellowish wing bars. In the Sun, the belly is more white than yellowish. Thhe yellow wing bars and strong eye ring should make this easy, but together they make it hard.
Until someone tells me better I am going with Chestnut-sided Warbler. While it looks nothing like this, the juveniles do. I snapped this bird last year and posted it in the YardCrap Migration Contest. Until someone tells me better, going with that.
Half time and so on the porch to 'tail gate'; I mean 'porch gate'.
Two migrants showed for me today. I got a photo of both. One is a blur and my guess is 'Yellow Warbler', but I don't know. Too many leaves for my camera to focus, and it happens quickly. You have to choose, either grab the camera or the binoculars, never enough time for both. I should have grabbed the bino.
The other seemed to be my first Kinglet of the year, but I guess not. So what is it - I don't know yet. Inside I will need to research my books. If you know - please comment. I was damned lucky to get this shot as he was jumping quickly after bugs (like a Kinglet) in the Elm Tree.
I don't know much, but at least I am in the game. As to games, got to get back inside for the second half of College Football.
Just saw this guy across the yard.
He is not a migrant and most Summers makes a nest just off from my chair. This Summer he has been missing. He is normally a constant at my feeders and one of my best bird friends (likes Beach Music). Where did he go?
Better photos will be taken soon as he is back now.
These birds make a lot of noise. They run around on a tree like a spider. Up or down makes no difference to them. They could give a damn if I am on the porch.
At my chair they eat eat suet and sunflower. They hammer the Sunflower into tree bark to store for later, and the squirrel appreciates that.
Hummingbirds are keeping my attention these days. I sit on the porch and feel like I need to duck as they do their war games. I been feeding them for decades, but never had a hundred at one time.
I presently have out 11 quart feeders and they need filled ever other day. I am buying more sugar than a moon shiner.
They don't like the ones not in the 'array'. Apparently spreading feeders out to end the wars is not what they want. They like to mix it up.
This tiny frog noticed bugs are also attracted and planted himself in a good spot. That is cool as hell, but how did he get there with no wings?
In a couple weeks they will leave. I hope they have a safe trip and all return next year.
Waiting Impatiently on migration. It has begun, but I have not yet seen an example.
My backyard backs ups to a large lake so I get to see more than I might otherwise. Snapped this guy who is a regular on the lake.
It is not too bad considering I was moving and off a distance. He is around most days. This is a very efficient bird and I guess why there are so many of them. I believe they are in about every state and maybe every county. To me it is a special bird due to the size I guess.
My new lens is coming - some day?
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: YardCrap AUTHOR EMAIL: yardcrap@protonmail.com TITLE: Migration STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: wysiwyg ALLOW PINGS: 0 BASENAME: migration UNIQUE URL: https://yardcrap.typepad.com/yardcrap_birds/2016/09/migration.html DATE: 09/04/2016 04:20:10 PM ----- BODY:Last year over on YardCrap put up a 'Migration Contest'.
It proved to be great fun.
I guess this year I am on my own, but I am excited due to the millions of readers now keeping up with this 'bird blog'.
The deal in the contest was to spot birds seen from your yard. For me that is my porch chair. Last year I only posted new bird photos (some kinda bad but ID worthy). I will do the same this year and encourage all to join in.
Since YC readers deserve good effort, ordered a new lens for my old camera. I doubt it will help as that was not my problem. I use a toy camera - Olympus 4/3. My lens is 50-200. The new one is a prime lens at 300.
My porch field of view from my chair is under 75 foot and about the same in width. How much 'bird fun' can one have in such a small area? I find it to be mesmerizing. I am endlessly entertained, but maybe it is the excellent beer and excellent music?
I have a lot of Hummingbirds this year.
I don't recall having had this many Hummingbirds in my many years of feeding the tiny guys.
The past couple years, I have had fewer than normal and have blamed it on Al Gore's wind mill farms.
I am not a casual bird feeder as I don't put up a feeder and in a month notice it is empty.
Right now I am going through 5 pounds of sugar in less than 3 days. The people at the my local market tipped the cops off that I might be using all this sugar to make Moonshine. Cops are my friends. They came by and wanted to sample some, but all I make is beer and wine. They were good with that.
I just made a movie, but utube won't let me register until I give them my phone number. I don't even know where my phone is, much less the number. Why do they need my number?
I have uploaded the 2 minute video to here: Maybe you can download it?
http://yardcrap.typepad.com/P9020001.MOV
Here is a photo snapped from the video:
It is what it is and not too bad. If you play a movie using my favorite player VLC, you can at anytime snap a shot of a hooter or in this case a hummer. How cool is that?
I know yall are not keeping your feeders full. If I had "a" feeder, would have to fill it every 15 minutes. I have about 20 out.
I need to get up a new array for next year as this is getting wild.
Maybe I could put a sign down on the highway and lure tourist here to see this. I do have fish ponds, etc. The sign could be:
"For a donation of $25 to help me feed the critters, you get to take a photo of my birds and enjoy a glass of homemade wine."
That sounds funny, but up the road is a pond where they sell a slice of bread for a dollar to feed the fish with. My Koi are bigger than their fish. Tourist flood in here, and there are few things available where they can spend their money.
All reading here can visit for free (wine included).
I have many bird houses of different sizes and types. In Winter I empty and clean them with bleach. Some house Flying Sqirrels and normal squirrels. (I leave their house keeping to them).
This year I plan to 're-do', and to do a better job. Some houses have been out 15 years and were not done as good as I can do now. I know more now. I made most of them.
The deal is to provide a safe comfortable place. "Safe" is a hard deal back here in the woods.
Many critters raid bird houses in my yard.
- raccoons
- possums
- sqirrels
- snakes
- other birds
- insects
- chipmunks
- flying squirrels
At my place the hardest to deal with are raccoons and snakes. 'Coons are fun critters, but I now hate all snakes. No snake is welcome in my yard. The other critters are more of a hit or miss thing.
Keeping all birds safe is too much, but I can do better.
One safe and productive place has been on my dock where Blue Birds took over the four houses I put up for Martins. They only use one at a time, but every year raise three broods. More than a hundred of the guys have safely fledged from there. I now look at these guys more a part of my large 'water bird' flock.
I am leaving their main house just in case (which is a very simple $10 job) and adding a much better one. To that end I scoured the web for the best so I could copy it and make a few. I narrowed it to two and ordered them. I found a 'WINNER'. I am not going to even make more, just order more. I highly recommend this one:
ebay
Amazon
It has a large rain over hang, metal hole guard, plastic viewing window, raised nest level to keep it dry (less insect problem), and very good ventilation. It is made solid, will last decades with an occasional coat of stain.
On a post you need a large pole guard. Even then, 'coons are a problem.
'Nailed to a tree' is easy picking, and that is where most of mine are.
My home has a two foot over hang (live in a round house) and will hang some round ones there out of sight of each other as I have had good luck with one of those. A hanging bird house is safer than any pole or post mount. I will try that from some tree limbs also.
I find that hole entry size is not relevant to my birds. It would be safer if the small birds would choose those with a tiny hole, but nope. A Nuthatch will nest in an owl house. My Wrens will nest - well anywhere. Bird experts have it figured out, but birds don't agree. I had Golden-crested Flycathers every year in an Owl house. I closed up the hole some to protect them this year, and they did not nest there. I replaced my main Screech-Owl house with an incredible upgrade, and they avoided it so far. They prefer the couple old ones I made from left over wood from when I built my Bride an outhouse.
Before Spring I will have a new bird-motel system in place. My birds deserve the best as I need a lot of birds to entertain me here on the porch.
Birds, Beer, and Music make me happy.
Not much going on out here on the porch right now except the many Humminbirds I have at my dozen feeders.
I did just get a quick "check in" from this guy. This is surely the "cutest" of birds. It is a tiny, but brave and boisterous little bird.
John James Audubon named this bird while he was in South Carolina.
If like me, you are a backyard bird watcher, this tiny guy is your friend. Any new feeder you put out will probably be visited first by this bird.
In Summer they mostly eat insects, and in Winter about half vegatable. At my place they eat every type food I put out. Put it out and they will come. They get very tame and pay little attention to me. Mine like JAZZ, as do I.
They flock up in Winter with Titmice, Kinglets, Nuthatches, Creepers, and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. These flocks are led by the Carolina Chickadees. They can keep you busy and entertained in Winter. All the above like suet.
Two bottles of Warsteiner Beer and and Clara Ponty on the music system. Life on the porch is good.
It is 90 degrees and a fun Smmer Storm looks to be headed my way.
For many years I have run a weather station from my dock that uploads to the internet every 2 minutes.
YardCrap Weather There is an active map so I can see the weather coming. Mostly it goes past Memphis to Alabama, curves up through Atlanta to my house. That is due to the Blue Ridge Mountains and jet stream.
So, what birds are about as the storm approaches?
August is a down time as to back yard feeders in my area. There is just too much fresh food in the woods.
Carolina Wren
Titmouse
House Finch
Chickadee
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Cardinal
Fish Crow
Blue Bird
Downy Woodpecker
Gold Finch
Hummingbird
Indigo Bunting
Dove
Canada Goose
Not too bad for two bottles of beer. Buy your self a Clara Ponty album - birds love it!!
She has a few and looking at Amazon, my favorite 'Embrace' is rare and pricey. Don't buy the mp3 crap. Go to ebay and find a used CD. She sings on one CD and has a nice voice, but it is my least favorite. I like the others better.
In my neck of the woods HummingBird breeding is over. We have just the Ruby-throated in SC.
As always in early Summer, people ask me why there are few Hummingbirds this year? I have been accused of hoarding them.
I believe HB are kinda territorial, and a bunch don't breed on the same acre.
Once the young fledge, all boundaries are off. These birds do not just live on sugar water, but eat a lot of insects. They need a lot of bugs for the new babies, and forage for that.
Then they return to sugar feeders with a vengence.
I put out 5 pounds of sugar yesterday, and it will last maybe 4 days. A month ago, 5 pounds was good for a month.
At the end of Winter, I put out about ten 8 oz feeders to draw in migrants and welcome the old crowd back home to my yard. I change it at least once a week and by July not much is being eating as i slip back to fewer feeders.
Now I have out all the 8oz feeders and 6-32oz feeders. It does not last a week. No big deal as sugar is cheap and Hummingbirds are a gift from GOD.
These guys keep my deck full of energy. My cats no longer pay them attention due to frustration as these guys are fast.
If your feeder is not full and fresh, shame on you.
These little guys are an inspiration to us all. The round-trip ordeal they endure to get to us is more than any human will come near in the Olympics.
They are special.
Right now they fight at the feeders. My thinking is that this ritual helps make the kids strong enough for the trip. They don't actually ever touch each other, and all will get a full belly if you help out a little.
The ones who will survive the journey must put on a lot of fat. Help them out, do your part.
Your reward will be that the very same bird who is with you now will fly thousands of miles and find your home in the Spring -> the same tiny bird. All he needs from you is a little sugar and a few mintes of your time.
This bird just showed up at the pond.
One might say it is a Scarlet Tanager, but I know different as I see the male from time to time.
They stay in the treetops, hidden among the leaves. They are hard to find. They do come to water and some berries.
My yard is like a jungle. My neighbors don't understand why I don't have a nice lawn. Almost everything I have planted over the years is in some way bird related. This Summer I am kinda layed up from my guts busting out, and Nature is taking over my yard. I like that!
Soon Winter migration will begin. Many bird visitors will drop in here to entertain me, not to the well manicured lawns of my neighbors. I guess it is all about what floats your boat.
The Summer Tanager is the only completely red bird in North America and a relative of Cardinals. It is a good reason not to be lazy with the binos as Cardinals flutter about. You may have seen one and passed it off as a Cardinal. The males stand out, but catching that female in the above photo makes my day!
(not my photo, too lazy to hunt one right now)
Food is foraged high in the trees. Insects are caught in-flight. They eat bees, wasps and berries. This bird has no fear of stinging insects, often raiding wasp nests and occasionally becoming a minor nuisance around beehives. I like bees, but their sting is deadly to me. I am a fan of Tanagers
They migrate to the middle of South America each Winter, but they breed right here in my SC yard each Summer. They like old trees and streams. My yard is perfect. Maybe I will get a photo soon of the young which are always a motly colored mess (like Cardinals).
Birds have many different looks. They are not stamped out all the same. ID can be often be a fun puzzel.
Swainson's Warbler
I was laying on my fat ass watching my birds out the bedroom window. I have a dense growth of privet there that the birds use to raid my window feeder.
I saw a new bird, did not know it. I could see it plainly, but had no camera. A search through my bird books found it.
Swainson’s warbler is a migratory species which breeds in the south-eastern United States and winters in Central America and the Caribbean.
One of the most secretive and least observed of all North American birds, the Swainson's Warbler is a skulking bird of the southern canebrakes and rhododendron thickets. If it weren't for its loud, ringing song, the presence of the species in many areas would go completely undetected.
Breeds in southern forests with thick undergrowth, especially canebrakes and floodplain forests in lowlands and rhododendron-mountain laurel in Appalachians.
I saw this recent article in the news as I googled it:
http://nypost.com/2016/04/28/this-li...-central-park/
“This is a bird that makes you drop all of your plans,” Bate, who is president of the Brooklyn Bird Club, told The Post. “It’s another ‘birders are losing their s–t’ moment.”
This is the first new bird I have seen in just over one year, so I am quite happy. I have not seen it since, but I suspect I will, so keeping a camera at the bed now.
Why are they named that? If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, you have a Cardinal in your area. It is the official state bird of seven states. I only have 'Southern' Cardinals. They don't migrate.
They are mostly veggie eaters, but like most birds, love a good bug. Here in my yard, generations have been raised also eating my "suet" mix.
I have a lot of them. They are constant entertainment. The males will peck at their reflection in the window which drives my cats crazy!
If there is a better looking bird, it escapes me. Many birds this brightly colored are shy at feeders, but not the Cardinal.
Here is a new one just 2 months old. They start off kinda motley, and the young females can be hard to look at. No problem as the male and female will be breathtakingly beautiful by Fall. (I checked and 'breathtakingly' is a real word)
They love SunFlower and Salfour at my place. They also eat a lot of millet, and start each day as the first bird to show in my bedroom window feeder for a bite of suet. I would guess around here they are the first to rise and the last to turn in each day.
My cat 'Crazy' often is sitting at the window and waiting as the Sun rises as he knows Cardinals are coming. Here is 'Crazy' with 'Percy'.
Here is Crazy "day sleeping" near the 'heated' window perch in another room. He is the youngest cat but will be the biggest as he is tall. At night he sleeps near my feet on the waterbed in "his" corner.
One day the Bride came home and told me she had seen a kitten up the road, stopped her car, but could catch it.
(Whew! I was glad as that girl tends to bring home more critters than we can feed.
That night was near record cold, and after an unusually cold day, got to 14 that night. Long after dark, my critters were excited at the door looking out. Coons, possums, and etc are common here. I looked out, and there was the kitten - freezing and starving. (I hope whoever would dump a kitten on a day like that rots in hell.)
I snatched him up, and he went crazy to be caught. He saw the food bowl and stopped squriming --> "FOOD"!
The Bride promised she would find him a home, that her Pop wanted a cat. 'Crazy' is still here and growing into a giant.
My friend TOAD posted this over on YardCrap Forum where lots of critters are discussed. He knows a lot about birds.
Wow! Great photos.
Your bird sanctuary is looking good.
I am amazed by sharpness of your photographs.
I would be ashamed to post the ones I take with my shaky hands.
I look forward to seeing more photos.
You should post your recipe for suet on the site.
TOAD, thanks for your post. Actually, I just "hope" for a good photo, but mostly seek an interesting one. I don't use a tripod, just my old hands. I know for a fact that your photos are as interesting as mine. If we are having "fun" that is the goal.
As to my "suet" recipe --
Suet can be bought at the supermarket if you ask. Basically, it is raw fat. Mine is a peanut butter mix and the web is full of recipes. Mine is the best as I been at this for decades of trial and error. At my house the birds will not eat the store bought cakes as they prefer my mix. I put them out side by side and ??
Basically the parts are peanut butter, lard, corn meal, flour and that is all.
People add in all kinds of crap, but I no longer do. Seeds are already slippery, why add that and make them impossible for the birds? The same is true of all other crap. Put those out separately, no need to add them to the "suet" station.
I use 'crunchy' peanut butter as it tends to be better than processed. I adjust the mixture depending on the heat. I mix about twice a year as this stuff will keep in the closet for months.
Basically I go 'one to one' with lard, peanut butter, corn meal, and flour. Less flour for Winter due to temps not requiring it. In Winter, softer is better, so experiment and adjust. The goal is "soft as possible" for it not to melt from the feeders.
There is zero need to add anything else. The goal is to attract the birds.
Start small. I have a ten gallon pot and mix enough for months.
Put the lard in the micro wave and it will liquify. Pour that in the pot on the stove. Put the jar of peanut butter in the microwave and it will liquify. Pour that into the pot.
Raise the temp to around 150 and stir in corn meal and flour. All corn meal is OK for Winter.
Put this into clean containers and it will keep for a year.
Be warned, your birds will demand it once fed.
I have a bedroom feeder mounted in a window that is never ending attraction for my 3 cats. For years, Red-bellied Woodpeckers show all day. They haul it off to the nest in Spring, and soon the young are led there to eat. They show evey hour, for years. Other birds do too, especially Cardinals who have been raised on it. The window is a special place.
On the porch is where the others show for "suet". It is strange how different birds prefer different situations, but that is my experience.
"Suet" is the feeder replacement for insects. Birds who don't eat seed will eagerly eat this. Most all birds will eat it with exceptions like Gold Finch and Doves. In Winter after cold kills off the bugs, the demand rises.
If you want to attract interesting birds, "suet" is essential.
Birds like water. In Summer when the Forest is full of fresh food, feeder activity is down. The birds all still come in to drink and wash.
One of their favorite places is my "Branch":
This thing draws birds all year round.
Even my big cat 'Percy' drinks there (birds hate that):
Here is a guy who already looks pretty good at my Branch today:
Jumps in:
Swirls around:
Comes out cool and clean:
Got in an email on 7/28/16 that asked to be added to this post. Normally would prefer a new post, but WTF?
*******************************
"Yardcrap bird page is purrrrfect. Looking forward to reading and seeing more. I wouldn't mind having a big drink of water with "Percy" at the "Branch".
I adjust my feeders as the seasons change. They go in and out of use. I am always on the look out for an interesting one. Some of my best are home made to fit my needs. They distribute the food. Different birds prefer food in different ways.
Most of the year I keep out:-
- Water
- Black-oil Sunflower
- White Millet
- Peanutbutter "suet" mix
- Salflour
- Peanuts
- crushed peanuts
- shelled Sunflower
- Sugar water
Other things come and go, but those are almost always out here.
I do keep at least one feeder with sugar water out all year. A few times after the Rubies have left, a Rufous has shown up for most of Winter. One year a Calliope showed up and spent the Winter. Experts wanted to come catch and band it, but I would not allow the tiny guy to under go that stress. I had to have fresh feeders out at day break everday as they would freeze. There is no need to take down all your HB feeders in Fall; how much does a little sugar water cost?
If your HB feeders are not freshly full, feed these tiny birds. They will soon embark on an incredible journey. Being 'fit and fat' when they begin can make the difference in their survival. The same bird will return next year all the way back from SA and come back to where your feeder was -> incredible!!
Small point and shoot camera:
It is only up to 96 in the shade on the porch today, so thought I would come out and play a couple tunes. Madeline Peyroux is sounding quite nice. I have my Dyson fan on as it has no blades to chop up Humming Birds as they buzz me.
I have Goldfinch year round, lots of them. They eat all seeds. Starting in Spring, they color up to be quite striking. They breed a little later than most around here - August. There are no days here on the porch without these guys.
Here is a photo just snapped of one. It is not the typical photo showing off their incredible plumage, but some personality. I like it. Too often when we have a lot of one type bird, we over look them as individuals. I find birds to be individually different just like all critters. This old boy looks like he has lived a good life and been in charge of it, sorta like a tiny Eagle.
The Sun is setting, and on que, my Doves are arriving. I have a few. They are some of my favorite yard birds. They eat many things, but here, just seed. The one below is here for SunFlower, but they love millet. I buy white millet from the feed store in 50# bags. Don't buy that crap sold in the markets that is a "mix" and a waste of money. Go to a feed store and buy 100% White Millet. In Winter I go through a lot of it with migrants. In Summer the Doves, Cardinals, Buntings, and a couple left over Chipping Sparrows eat it. In Summer, Millet is not in demand. SunFlower always is. I keep out several types of food and adjust with the seasons. You should too as things are always changing.
Light is fading and this shot is about 50ft off. It is not the best photo, but still shows what a beautiful bird the Dove is.
Years back with the help of my Beagle -> 'Rosey', built a bird stand off my porch. It is second story and up in the trees with the birds. It looks down on my "Turtle Pond", my Frog Pond", and my "Branch". Rosey helped me build those. No feeders are better than water for attracting critters.
This place is small, but big enough for my chair, my gear, and a friend. It is cozy. I spare no expense as to making it a fun place. I enjoy it all seasons, and especially like to be here when it is very cold, very hot, or in a storm. It is a fun place. I do all my computer work here. I built one for the porch whos main tasks are to update my weather station eevery two minutes, and be capable of playing music at the highest quality level.
The gear out here is top notch. I am an audio-nut (as are my Birds), and my music system here is extremely good after trial and error over years. I have everything here I can think of, even a tiny fridge set at 30 degrees. In all the World, this is my favorite place. When I hit the lotto, not moving.
Lake Hartwell is a couple hundred feet away. I can sit here and see water birds (how cool is that?).
Right now this cute female Downy WoodPecker is ten foot away eating my home made "suet" from a cedar log I driiled 2" holes in. Homemade is often better than store bought.
I enjoy different types of WoodPeckers. The Downeys are a constant at my feeders. They are nearly tame and like Jazz, as do I, but will show up for Beach Tunes.
