After about 3 hummingbird sightings all season and taking the feeder down about 6 weeks ago, I just saw one feeding at our potted red flowers out front. My guess he's passing through heading south. Today is the last hot day in the 10 day.
Rairly if ever have I seen a cardinal on this feeder. Nuthatches have a hard time sitting on the perch and eating. They're just to close to the main body. I've seen RBGs do it.
Approaching hawk migration time in New England. Usually around Sept 10 to 15 at Putney Mtn. See the link in the article to hawkcount and check the counts in previous years for sites near you. Putney Mountain Hawkwatch reports ‘best year ever’ for sightings - VTDigger
We took the hummingbird feeder down quite some time ago after little or no activity. The other day I saw one come to the coat hanger where it hung from hover and then land on it. She had seen them over the last few days so back up it went. Regular sightings of them the last few days. Wonder how soon they will migrate?
Was getting ready for work yesterday and saw 6 hens out back by the bird feeder. By the time I was ready to leave, they were out front by my car.
I have three out back every morning aerating my lawn. They are tearing it up pretty good. Lucky for you they didn't attack your car. I've seen the males do that. They don't like shiny things.
Oh they get my sliding door, or 1 of the eight 4x6 windows, or the front door that's full length glass. You're right though, it is usually the males I see doing it. There's actually beak scratch marks on the front door glass. Haven't noticed that anywhere else yet.
Heard a pileated woodpecker squawking up a storm the other morning. It flies across the yard and land in an oak on the edge of the woods. I watched it peck at a dead limb for a couple minutes while woods chips shower down. Watched it fly again to another part of the woods and then again to another. I hear them on a regular basis, just don't see them that often. No pics, sorry.
Had to stop at Lowe's in a different town today and a flock of seagulls were in the parking lot. McDonald's was next door. I gave them some granola when I came back and the crows were even more brazen. One landed on my hood.
Looking at a job this morning and I heard a monk parakeet. I spotted it perched on a utility pole, but it flew before I could get a pic. Some escaped captivity years back and have thrived in the colder climates. Even becoming a nuisance mostly along the shoreline. I've seen and heard them in other towns along the coast. They build a huge communal nest. I've seen them in a zoo as well. Yes, there are established wild populations of Monk Parakeets (also known as Quaker Parakeets) in Connecticut, particularly along the coast in towns like Fairfield, Milford, New Haven, and Stratford. These birds have been in the state for over 50 years, originating from escapes or releases from the pet trade, and have successfully adapted to the local environment, building large, communal nests. Origin and History Escaped from captivity: The most popular origin story is that Monk Parakeets escaped from a broken shipping crate at JFK Airport in the 1960s while being transported from South America. Adaptable birds: Regardless of the exact origin, these parakeets are highly adaptable, with a high body fat content and the ability to build large stick nests that help them survive the cold Connecticut winters. Where to find them in Connecticut Coastal areas: Wild populations are concentrated along the southwestern coast. Specific towns: You can find them in areas including Fairfield, Milford, New Haven, Stratford, and Hamden. Nests: Look for their large, communal stick nests, often found in trees. Conservation Status Not native: Monk Parakeets are not a native species to Connecticut. Impact on ecosystems: While entertaining, these birds are considered invasive in many areas and can pose challenges to local ecosystems. Challenges to management: Management of wild Monk Parakeet populations can be difficult. Their loud vocalizations and tendency to build nests on power lines have led to efforts to find non-lethal solutions to reduce their impact on utilities.
Im manning the smoker yesterday and I hear a titmouse scolding. Very common sound but something made me check it out. Im searching to the bird in the big arborvitae on the edge of the yard and an owl perched in the tree maybe ten feet from me!!! It didn't flinch when I spotted it. I called Ms.buZZsaw over and when she got there it flew to another tree. I went for the binoculars and it flew to another tree. Took me a bit to find it and we watched it sleeping for a couple hours. Other birds were scolding it. She got pics with her phone. It was a barred owl. Ill post pics later. I've heard owls in the woods here, but first I've seen one. Amazed how close it was and wasn't spooked by me.
An Eastern towhee spotted yesterday and this morning. Second time we've seen one here. Couldn't zoom for better pic. Always fun to see a bird you don't see. Hopefully it will hang around.
Pigeons, I am not particularly fond of pigeons. I prefer mourning (rock) doves, which I had in abundance at the previous house.. But now that I'm in town, pigeons are the norm with the occasional 1 or 2 mourning doves showing up in the group occasionally. In a semi-related subject, with the drought, I have been filling my two small bird baths twice daily as the birds and small critters use them not only to bathe, but for drinking water. Many times the baths are empty when I go to refill them. Anyway, yesterday afternoon I went out to refill the bird baths, and what should I see, but a pigeon I've never seen before. Most are dark (like the 2 in the pictures below). I do currently also have a lighter gray-blue pigeon that frequents, and that one has white feather streaks along the wings and tail. In the past I've also had a mostly white pigeon, which was obviously leucistic. I have never seen the brown pigeon in the pictures. It has white streaky feathers along the tail and wing edges, but also has mottled white spots elsewhere. I'm going with it being a another flavor of leucistic pigeon. Weird that I've not seen it before as it is obviously full grown. Although, it is possible that previously it has blended in so well with leaves and dead/dying plants that I just never noticed it before.
Possible albino? Neat to see either way. Never have seen a pigeon here at our feeder (thank God) Only ones seen locally live under interstate overpasses IME. I despise them. What animal builds its nest out of its own droppings? Ive had to clean rain gutters filled to the top with their droppings...GROSS! Our resident there was seen for a few days and haven't seen since. Helped a friend move something at his rental and grabbed a few fresh walnuts from a tree there. Our resident squirrels loved them.
