3:01 AM – The mealworm feeder is empty, and the birds don’t like it. In order of appearance: Mockingbird, Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Chickadee and Carolina Wren.
Earlier, when the feeder was full, this Pine Warbler eats some mealworms, then takes one away. We assume that means a nest somewhere, with mate and possibly chicks.
2:51 AM – A Cardinal on the platform feeder is a common sight. We haven’t presented a Cardinal video (except ‘retro’s’) for a while, so, here it is:
Another Cardinal video, this time on the mealworm feeder. Cardinals will go for mealworms, but they usually prefer the platform and Squirrel-buster feeders, where the sunflower seeds are. In this video, Mr. C is having lunch, and discouraging the regulars from joining him – that part is in slow motion. As soon as he leaves, the Bluebirds come back.
1:14 AM – The mealworm feeder was empty for a day, and the Bluebirds go into a feeding frenzy when D fills it up.
Brief videos of new arrived Pine Warblers eating and drinking. (Not really eating, since the feeder was empty just about then, but you get the picture.)
From December, 2016, we have two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers drinking at the birdbath. We rarely see these little birds. That’s too bad, they’re cute little fellows.
2:59 AM – Another ‘drinking birds’ video. We have so many because there’s so much traffic at the birdbath. All the birds (and other critters) have to drink water.
One from the December, 2016 archives. This Mockingbird is not happy about the floating fountain in his birdbath. This bird was originally misidentified as a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
3:04 AM – The birds have been very thirsty lately, giving us plenty of video of drinking and splashing around. Here’s a small Bluebird having a sip until a nice looking Brown Thrasher shows up.
Sometime yesterday afternoon the birds gobbled up the last of the mealworms. Today, we’re seeing a lot of this: a annoyed looking Bluebird waiting for a refill. And probably complaining about the service in this joint.
4:37 AM – We’re seeing more Mockingbirds this Fall – or maybe the same few Mockingbirds a lot more frequently. As seen here, he’s a fan of the platform feeder and the birdbath. He also likes mealworms, puppies and long walks in the rain. Maybe not those last two.
Archive footage (November 2016) of birds peacefully at the birdbath. There are Bluebirds, Purple Finches, Cardinal and Sparrows.
2:56 AM – Bluebirds favor the mealworm feeder over all the others. Here’s a ‘mini-swarm’ of hungry birds.
Archive footage from 11/2016 of a Cardinal and Purple Finch on the empty birdbath.
4:38 AM – It’s ‘Retro-Robins’, a review of past videos featuring the American Robin.
We’ll start with some juvenile Bluebirds being approached by a juvenile Robin. I’m pretty sure the Robin wants to be friends, but the Bluebirds aren’t having any of that.
From last summer, a Robin bathing”
From more than a year ago, a Robin drinking:
Finally, a Robin and a pathetic looking molting Cardinal. The Robin waits for the Cardinal to leave before bathing. Robins are notoriously modest.
3:02 AM – More excitement at the mealworm feeder. This Mockingbird doesn’t like to share. The Bluebird lands, and takes off again fast. Once that’s accomplished, Mockingbird goes back to eating worms.
Doves are getting numerous around the feeders again. Here’s one drinking, and another keeping some Cardinals at bay in the feeder.
12:13 AM – Just a couple of Bluebirds on the mealworm feeder, like most other days. One’s a male, the other a female. Maybe a couple having lunch together.
And now for something completely different: A raccoon washing up in the middle of the night. Since we switched to ‘pepper’ bird feed we’re seeing a lot few cameras and feeders knocked to the ground by enthusiastic raccoons. But they still come around occasionally.