Sunday – 7.30.2017

5:01 AM – Another Retro-Sunday.

At the time this was recorded, March 22, 2017, I didn’t realize that a molting bird can lose his tail feathers. This Carolina Wren was not the victim of anything as dramatic as a last second escape from a pouncing cat.  Probably.

Here’s one from March 21, 2017 of a bluebird at the ‘suet’ feeder. That’s actually compressed seeds, not suet, but we got used to calling it suet because it’s served in the suet cage. The bluebird seems to like it just fine.

We like this one because of the squirrels panicked expression. It’s a joke because we never made a serious try to hurt one. Even when we used the slingshot and a steel ball bearing, the shot was so weak (on purpose) it just bounced off a squirrels back – he didn’t even move, just sat there until he was ready to scamper off.  From March, 28, 2017.

 

Saturday – 7.29.2017

3:48 AM  –  Lots of Blue Jays around lately. We need to sort them out and give them names, or numbers or something. Probably names.

The Blue Jay vs Mourning Dove territorial dispute continues. This round goes to the Doves.

And last, a non-confrontational White Breasted Nuthatch and Carolina Chickadee taking turns on the suet cage. A nice change from the pugnacious Doves and Jays.

Friday – 7.28.2017

4:49 AM – This platform feeder drama went on for almost six minutes. Two doves versus one Blue Jay, for control of the bird seed. At one point they tried sharing, each pecking up some seed. One dove flew off, and the other moved in to take his place. Eventual he went for the Blue Jay. The Jay, however, didn’t fly away. He just retreated a few feet along the rail and kept on staring. Then he advance to the water and the Dove broke, and flew off. It was interesting , but I doubt anything was permanently settled.

The new suet we’re using is very popular with the customers, drawing birds that don’t ordinarily feed at the suet cage. I like these two videos (combined) because the show the difference between the biggest and smallest suet fans, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and a Carolina Chickadee.

At first I thought this might be the first Blue Jay visitor to the suet cage. but it turns out there were two other visits filmed. Still a rare event though. This one looks like an immature one.

 

Thursday – 7.27.2017

4:04 AM – The bluebirds started showing up at the suet feeder a few weeks ago. They were feeding from the small pieces that had fallen into the tray, as if it were a platform feeder. Recently though, they’re going right for the gold, clinging to the cage and pecking into the feed. Kind of like a woodpecker, except less graceful and effective.

These two birds are also infrequent visitors to the suet cage. The finches have been scarce, and they stick mostly to the mealworms. Cardinals are everywhere, but I don’t recall seeing one on the suet. I’m pleased to see this one getting some head feathers back, though it does make him look like he’s got mange.

This Cardinal is almost fully re-feathered after his early summer Molt. The last small bare patch is visible at the very start of the clip.

 

Wednesday – 7.26.2017

5:24 AM – This bluebird collects a beak-full of mealworms to take back to the nest.

Cardinals don’t usually come around the suet feeder, but lately we’ve  seen them a lot. Maybe they developed a taste for the pepper suet while the mealworm feeder was out of commission. Anyway, here’s one sharing the feeder with a Downy Woodpecker.

We don’t often see two Blue Jays on a feeder at the same time. Bluebirds, yes. They run in a pack (or small flock) of two or three. But not the Jays.

Tuesday – 7.25.2017

4:33 AM – Carolina Wren was caught out in the thunderstorm, He should be grateful that he’s not molting right now.

It’s not a great day for this Cardinal. He got hit by the storm, and he’s losing feathers.

Finally, a Blue Jay going about his normal routine – beaking his way through the seeds and looking around.

Monday – 7.24.2017

3:52 AM – The Mourning Doves are now the most frequent visitor to the open platform feeders, and it looks like they’re feeling possessive. This one sure doesn’t want Blue Jays hanging around.

Since the cylinder suet cage is back in action, we’ve been getting a steady stream of bird customers (and a couple of attempts by squirrels). These were there over the last few days: Downy Woodpecker,White Breasted Nuthatch, Bluebird, Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee and Red-bellied Woodpecker. The Cardinal is new to the suet feeder, probably because the mealworm feeder wasn’t up that day. Same for the bluebird with the attractive pattern of back feathers.

Here’s that squirrel we mentioned. He takes a good sniff and decided to have lunch somewhere else. We really like pepper suet.

Sunday – 7.23.2017

5:06 AM – Retro-Sunday, once again.

From April, 2017, father bluebird taking care of the first generation of young.

Cedar Waxwings swarming the birdbath, in April 2017. We hope they come back on their way up north.

March, 2017. Raccoon spills mealworms out of the feeder onto the ground, for easy access. Raccoons are clever.

Saturday – 7.22.2017

7:31 AM – This is a new one for us, a bald-headed Blue Jay. No feathers, no crest. Presumably, he’s molting.

Yesterday we had a clip of a bluebird declining to eat from the suet cylinder. Later, after the cylinder had been pecked at a good bit, and there were crumbs in the tray, it was a different story. Evidently the bluebird does like suet, he just doesn’t want to peck it out of the cylinder.

It looks like we have a third generation of bluebirds in the yard. The one on the right still has trouble perching, and his feathers don’t have much color. The other one is either first or second generation, it’s getting hard to tell them apart.

Friday – 7.21.2017

11:07 AM – The new pepper suet is a success. The birds like it, and we’ve seen no squirrels on it yet. Here’s a Tufted Titmouse, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

This bluebird checks out the new pepper suet cylinder, and decides it’s not for him. I wonder if it were compressed seeds if he would like it.

This video shows a squirrel sampling the next pepper seed/feed. He stops eating right away, gets a drink of water, and scampers off. That’s what’s supposed to happen. I’m disappointed to report that later in the day another squirrel spent five minutes hogging down the hot seeds. It didn’t seem to bother him at all. I guess the effectiveness depends on the squirrel, but we have had very few lengthy squirrel visits since we put out the hot stuff.

 

 

 

Backyard Birds in Central Alabama