Spring birds arriving.

[grnspot110]

Our Ruby Throated Humming birds & Baltimore Orioles have just shown up at the feeders the last week or so. Bluebirds are still taking care of the nest, should start hatching this week! ~~ grnspot

 

[tcreeley]

Just this morning I heard an Oven bird singing (1st) - teacher,teacher,teacher.
I found half the shell of what looked like a robins egg yesterday- the A. bittern calls every late afternoon.
pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!

Oven bird - second photo (hence the name!)

 

[tcreeley]

This morning going out to the chicken coop I came across a black and white warbler. It had been raining for 2 days and at last the morning sun was coming out. Through the open window- early dusk I heard a common snipe (new name wilson's snipe- (another name change!)- used to be very common, but much less so now- distinctive sound of the wings- hear them more than see them!
On the way to work a killdeer flew across the road from a just plowed field.

pics from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!
Black + White warbler, Common Snipe, Killdeer

 

[Looking4new]

Yesterday evening I saw a Great Blue Heron fishing off the river bank. If I see him again today, I will definitely get pictures.

 

[crash325]

I've got a Humming bird nesting in the barn. She had been flying around under the open shed and I thought she was looking for a place to build a nest.

Caught her today siting the nest.

Nest if made from spider webs and covered with wood chips from the planer.

Picture not so hot, but didn't want to bother her or the nest.

 

[tcreeley]

Leaving the house this morning I saw a Chestnut sided Warbler. It has become a regular in the yard over the years. From my open window this morning around 3:50 I hear a Great Horned Owl calling in the distance- before the robins start up singing!------

---That is a great nest for the hummingbird- amazing how small- and under cover--just noted it is on the tail wheel!
---I tend to just see Gt. Blue Herons while driving- but I never have the luck to be close enough for a picture!

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!
Chestnut Sided Warbler- Great Horned Owl

 

[Looking4new]

During the summer I live on my boat. That is why I am close enough. I'm watching for them now and will try to post a better pic when I get one.

 

[tcreeley]

Coming home today I heard a Nashville Warbler right after I parked my truck and was out. - what I call a 2 part song. Often singing from close to the tops of a tree. Likes deciduous, poplar, maple. Dendroica has all of these birds and their songs. The site has all of the birds of North America- so you have to wade through some- they are organized by types of birds- same way a bird book is.

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!

Nashville Warbler

 

[tcreeley]

During the summer I live on my boat. That is why I am close enough. I'm watching for them now and will try to post a better pic when I get one.

Sounds very pleasant- I imagine the birdsong can become pretty intense after 4:30 am near the shore!

 

[tcreeley]

Had a Common yellowthroat calling as I left to work this morning -- witchity-witchity-witchity.
Rythymic. Little masked bird- comes to you if you shush him-- say: pshhh,pshhh,pshhh reasonably loudly. You'll feel foolish- but it works with this bird! (and chickadees!). They are generally at the 2'-8' height range in brush. Makes a little clicking call note as well. Fun bird.


pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!
male/Common Yellowthroat, female/Common Yellowthroat

 

[tcreeley]

This morning going to the truck I heard a Least flycatcher -repeated: "che-bek", 5-8' up usually- slighter than a phoebe. Also I heard a a Great Crested Flycatcher --burry "preep" like the sound of a policeman's whistle (treetops usually).

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!

Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher

 

[tcreeley]

Driving today I saw a Kingbird on the telephone wire and a Marsh hawk (aka Northern Harrier) being chased by 3 crows. The white rump can stand out on the Marsh Hawk when in flight.

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!

Kingbird, Marsh Hawk

 

[tcreeley]

Northern Catbird today flying into the spruces. Been nesting here 7-8 years now. Likes the black berry thicket. I heard a Parula Warbler from the tree tops- spruce and poplar mixed. They are one of the birds that I listen for when I drive with the window down. -Like hearing old friends. Every year the Cedar Waxwings come and eat the petals on the blooming apple trees. I heard a cedar waxwing today. Years ago we had one hit the window in October. We took it in and fed it blueberries for a week. I released it into an apple tree and it didn't fly. I lured it back to my hand with once frozen elder berries. It got a little woozy and I plucked it from the branch and brought it back into the house for another week. When I released it again- it was off at once headed in a southerly direction. I've been fond of cedars since then.
pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!
.Parula Warbler..........................Catbird..........................................................Cedar Waxwing

 

[tcreeley]

Saw Barn Swallows on Friday in an around a large barn on the road. Terrific flyers. -Swallow mosquitos!

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site!

Barn Swallows

 

[Looking4new]

My favourite flying things; Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, Bats and Dragon Flys. They all eat mossies.

 

[crash325]

Re: Signs of a warming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcreeley View Post


Any action on the hummingbirds nesting?
I've got Babies - got a quick glimpse of 2 little heads a couple of days ago. Think the babies are already flying. 2 Quick to really get a good look, but looked like one flew out today. Looked to small to be the mother.

Now have a few baby Quail and a few a little bigger. Mine came late this year. Think it has to do with the outside dogs. Brat & her mother chase anything that will run or fly from them.

Found a little Inca Dove nest (nest is almost a misnomer for them. You wonder what keeps the eggs in.) as well, think they are hatched and moved out of the nest.

The Mexican Air Force (Turkey Neck Buzzards) has been strafing my yard for the last few days.

Road Runners come in once or twice a day. Looking for an easy meal, as in baby quail.

2 Birds that I don't much care for, Black Cow and White Wing doves are here. They just devour the feed I put out. Hopefully they will go on north fairly soon.

 

[tcreeley]

I had a Warbling Vireo outside when I came home today- sweet continuous song.
This morning about 4:20 through the open windows as I am half awake I listened to a cardinal mix in with a bluebird and a robin - not really that light out and cool (48/500)- nice after 82 in the shade yesterday evening. Wonderful start to a day.

pic from NatureInstruct - Dendroica Excellent site! (songs too)

Warbling Vireo

 

[tcreeley]

Re: Signs of a warming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcreeley View Post


Any action on the hummingbirds nesting?
I've got Babies - got a quick glimpse of 2 little heads a couple of days ago. Think the babies are already flying. 2 Quick to really get a good look, but looked like one flew out today. Looked to small to be the mother.

Now have a few baby Quail and a few a little bigger. Mine came late this year. Think it has to do with the outside dogs. Brat & her mother chase anything that will run or fly from them.

Found a little Inca Dove nest (nest is almost a misnomer for them. You wonder what keeps the eggs in.) as well, think they are hatched and moved out of the nest.

The Mexican Air Force (Turkey Neck Buzzards) has been strafing my yard for the last few days.

Road Runners come in once or twice a day. Looking for an easy meal, as in baby quail.

2 Birds that I don't much care for, Black Cow and White Wing doves are here. They just devour the feed I put out. Hopefully they will go on north fairly soon.

-Never seen a roadrunner- just the cartoon! The birds sound great. We have the mourning doves- no Inca doves! Wild Turkeys are getting common here. There's a season on them and they tag them. On of my students got an 18lb tom 2 days ago. The only quail are the bobwhites- and they are usually domestic ones released. They don't survive the winters well. We've got a few vultures but they are usually way up soaring.
The humming birds are great- it is amazing that being so small- they actually survive and migrate. In my 20's I saw one chase a chickadee- who had all he could to get away.

 

[tcreeley]

My favourite flying things; Purple Martins, Barn Swallows, Bats and Dragon Flys. They all eat mossies.

mossies -- mosquitoes!?

Now if there was something that would eat the no-seeums!

When I mow the grass I often have dragonflies following me -eating the mosquitoes and black flies buzzing up around me!

 

[beandip]

After reading your posts I figure you are the one to ask about attracting mosquito eaters. We have about 18 acres in the Southern Adirondacks with a climate probably similar to yours. Our land is about 60% wooded evergreens with the rest tall grasses and scrubs, and a couple open acres. The pines are high and dry but the scrubs are in wetlands with 2 small creeks running through them. Next door is about a 5 acre "pond" depending on the rain.
I would like to attract a few different breeds of skeeter eaters, or any songbirds for that matter. Any suggestions as far as what flowers, homes, or cover to use. As much as I enjoy birds I don't know a lot of specifics trying to attract specific breeds. My wife is enamored with hummingbirds, and over the years we have tried to attract them with limited success.
Some of the "locals" seen so far are a few Phoebes, English sparrows,Woodpeckers, several Wild Turkeys, and a large gray wading bird( I can't get close enough to get a good description.
Any input would be appreciated. Perhaps the title of a good book?