1:00 AM – We put out a new cylinder of compressed seeds, replacing the old one, which had been well pecked and chewed. Here are three birds, trying it out. The White Breasted Nuthatch, eating upside down, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Finch.
We put the remains of the old compressed seed cylinder in the platform feeder, where it was a very popular item. Here’s a Dark-eyed Junco picking through the pieces:
And here are some Finches, including one that flings the bigger pieces around. I admire that kind of spirit in a Finch.
12:29 AM – The mystery bird from yesterday has been identified as a Yellow-rumped Warbler. He came back a couple of times – here’s one visit to the suet feeder:
I think this one is a different one. Maybe not, though:
I compared him to pictures of the Yellow-Rump (love that name) from the Cornell Lab website.
Looks like a match to me. This is the first of these to show up in the yard. At least, the first I noticed. They are similar enough to the other small birds – sparrows, finches etc – that they wouldn’t stand out at the platform feeder, in a crowd. Up close on the Worm Cam, it’s apparent they’re not one of the regulars.
1:00 AM – Here’s how smaller birds can eat at the compressed seed cylinder. This Carolina Wren doesn’t have any problem getting to the food. A Chickadee could probably squeeze all the way inside. That’s not really a good idea, so we’re going to retire this cylinder to the platform, and install a new one.
More video of the Blue Jays on the platform feeder. They’re storing seed in their gullets, as opposed to eating. Maybe there’s some nesting going on.
Another video of a Downy Woodpecker, this one a particularly vigorous eater.
1:00 AM – Several Blue Jays have been around lately, mostly on the platform feeder. They particularly like peanuts, of course.
Other platform activity. A Finch of some kind – It’s hard for me to tell the difference between a House Finch and a Purple Finch. Then a White Breasted Nuthatch arrives, selects a seed to take with him, and departs. The Finch doesn’t mind.
Finches feeding and squabbling while a squirrel calmly eats peanuts in the background. Squirrels around here have it good.
1:00 AM – A cluster of Finches on the compressed seed cylinder. I thought they’d leave when the thistle sock emptied out, but no, they’re still here.
A Downy Woodpecker, the smallest of our local woodpeckers. Seems like I read that it’s the smallest of all the woodpeckers, but I’m not sure about that. Compared to the other ones, though, he’s pretty small.
And finally, a bonus squirrel. This one makes a run at the compressed seed cylinder, and is reminded that it’s compressed pepper seed. A very short clip.
1:00 AM – We’ll start with this Mockingbird scattering the Bluebirds on the mealworm feeder. The Mockingbird is a regular visitor to the worm feeder. We see many different kind of birds eating mealworms, some more often than others.
Cardinal and Bluebird eyeing each other on the mealworm feeder. I like the way the Cardinal peaks around the feeder.
Finally, this Bluebird is included because he’s so intensely blue.
1:00 AM – The Finches haven’t really gone anywhere, in spite of the absence of the thistle sock. The first video shows some really hungry Finches gobbling seed on the platform feeder:
This one shows a couple tearing into the compressed seed cylinder.
1:00 AM – We still have the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers around, but the only place they feed is on the compressed seed cylinder. Now that the Cylinder Cam is back up, we’re getting videos. Unfortunately, they’re so big it’s hard to get a good image of them.
Three birds in this video – the Tufted Titmouse is most prominent, drinking from the bath. When he flies away, we see a small Finch, also drinking. Meanwhile, there’s a Red-bellied Woodpecker on the Squirrel Buster feeder in the background.
4:30 AM – We now have four cameras back in action. This video is from the ‘Cylinder Cam’. A male Downy Woodpecker is pecking his way into the compressed seeds. The original video was almost four minutes long, and showed him slowly working his way around the feeder.
Meanwhile, on the mealworm feeder, it’s reassuring to see we still have plenty of Bluebirds around.
