2:54 AM – Mrs. Cardinal doesn’t get a friendly reception from the Bluebird on the mealworm feeder, but once it’s clear that she’s just there for the food, they both settle down. After that, Bluebirds come and go, as well as a little Chickadee. But Mrs. C keeps on eating.
This was taken just before we replenished the platform feeder. Mr. Cardinal swaggers in for a snack, and finds nothing but husks. You can tell he doesn’t like that.
1:46 AM – We moved feeders and cameras around, trying to get a new variety of birds. We’re not sure how that will work out, but with the camera back on the mealworm feeder we’re getting lots of videos of Bluebirds. Here’s a sample of the activity at the high traffic feeder.
It’s not just Bluebirds. Here’s a Carolina Wren and a nice Mockingbird taking their turn at the trough.
1:12 AM – It’s Retro-Sunday again. We’ll start with this video of a Bluebird attacking a Yellow Rumped Warbler at the mealworm feeder. This clip was first posted in March, 2017. Here it is again, re-edited to show the assault by the vicious Bluebird in Slow Motion. We do like our Bluebirds, though. We just stay away from them at the mealworm feeder.
We haven’t seen the Blue Jays at the feeders for several weeks, so here’s a video from the recent past, just to take a look at the beautiful birds. This isn’t their best behavior, but we still like to look at them.
2:00 AM – Lots of Bluebirds in the yard these days – well, by lots I mean we see four or five at a time. Last winter they were a rare sight, but we courted them with mealworms, and it worked.
We put some peanuts out, hoping to attract the Blue Jays. Every now and then I see them high up in the trees, but they don’t attend the feeders anymore. Instead we got a Cardinal. That’s alright, but it would be nice to have the Jays back.
2:20 AM – Yesterday it was birds on the suet feeder, one after another. Today, a shorter version of birds drinking. We have the Bluebirds, Pine Warbler, Purple Finch and Brown Thrasher, a colorful lot. The quality of the video is really not acceptable, but until we can find a suitable (and better) replacement camera, it will have to do.
High speed Downy Woodpecker. Just some fun with video.
3:40 AM – We get more suet feeder traffic in cold weather – it’s in the 50’s, a little chilly for Alabama in October. In order of appearance: Pine Warbler, Purple Finch, Bluebird, White Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren and Red-bellied Woodpecker. I’m surprised we didn’t see a Cardinal and Chickadee in the lineup.
The other morning, around 4:30 AM, we had a raccoon visit. We were sitting right inside, but didn’t hear anything. If we have to have varmints, I’d rather have the coon than the possum. I prefer the bushy ringed tail to the possum’s naked rat tail.
3:49 AM – New visitor to the Backyard Foodcourt: a possum. I’ve been waiting for one to turn up. This one makes a tour of the feeders and birdbaths, tasting the suet. But it’s pepper suet, so he moves right along. I’m glad he visited, but I hope he doesn’t come back (like that will happen).
Bluebirds at the water trough. Looks like the gang decided to go out for a drink after work, or something.
Downy Woodpecker making his mark on the suet cake, their preferred backyard feeder food. The Downy’s are small birds, not much bigger than the Nuthatches and Chickadees. They’re permanent residents (non-migratory), and can be found over most of the United States and parts of Canada.
3:49 AM – Bluebird and Finch on the birdbath:
Male and female Downy Woodpeckers on the suet feeder. They love that stuff. It doesn’t taste all that good to me, though.
2:49 AM – We moved the big birdbath in front of the camera, and we’re getting a nice variety of visitors. Here we have (in order of appearance) another line-up of visitors: a Bluebird, Cardinal, Brown Thrasher, Carolina Wren, squirrel (two eared variety) and a midnight cat.
Cardinal and Chickadee sharing the Squirrel Buster feeder. As usual, the Cardinal stays put and feeds, while the Chickadee darts in and out.
12:28 AM – We had enough decent videos this week so that once again we’re skipping ‘Retro Sunday’. Instead, here’s a series of birds (and others) at the birdbath. We’re getting a greater variety now that the camera is focused on the water feature. In order of appearance: Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, Yellow Warbler (I think), a squirrel and finally, a Raccoon passing through on his way to ravage the mealworm feeder. I’m calling the third one a Yellow Warbler, and not a Goldfinch, because there are no head markings. But I could easily be wrong.
Lots of Bluebirds around lately. I’d still like to get footage of them chasing each other, but that’s not really possible with our cameras and very limited cinematography skill. Here’s one having a suet-snack.
Carolina Chickadee at the Squirrel Buster.