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.
3:48 AM – The Sparrows we’ve been seeing have turned into a small flock. Here are at least five of them on the platform feeder. Near the end of the video is some slow-motion beak fencing.
The Yellow-rumped Warblers are back from a summer in the north. According to the Cornell Labs website, they are down from Canada. Last year we had quite a few.
Extra video from the Archives. This is from November, 2016.
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.
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.
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.
12:11 AM – We switched the feeders around, for variety. Now the suet feeder is in the spot light. This little Chickadee is pecking a tiny dent in the cake of suet with it’s tiny beak. The Carolina Wren does a better job, with his long sharp beak. This Wren is really hungry.
Female Purple Finch. They’re not as colorful as the male, but I think quite attractive, with their stripes and brown feathers.
1:35 AM – Retro Sunday, once again. But first, something a little different. Here’s a video of a Carolina Wren at the mealworm feeder, published several days ago. Here it is again, but now with a soundtrack, another original composition.
This one is from January, 2017. Its a very interesting video that demonstrates how alert (and quick) the sparrows are. Four of them are sitting in the feeder. Suddenly they all fly away. Within a second a hickory nut falls from the branches above and lands in the feeder. It seems no matter how intently the birds are hogging down, they’re still paying attention to their surroundings. If you’re potential hawk-food, I guess that’s a good idea.
3:01 AM – Here’s a Cardinal flapping his wings and quivering. He can’t be too distressed – he keeps eating all through the performance. Presumably he’s displaying to some bird we can’t see in the video.
Activity at the mealworm feeder. Carolina Chickadees are regulars there, but they are usually hit-and-run feeders, picking up a mealworm and flying off. In this case, the Chickadee stays around for a while and eats on site. Next, the Carolina Wren stabs at the worms so fast it’s hard to tell if he’s eating them, or just knocking them down on the ground. A slow motion view (not shown) revealed that he’s doing both.
3:47 AM – It’s a tale of two wrens. Carolina Wrens, that is. One of them has tail feathers, the other doesn’t. Both of them navigate the feeder just fine.
It looks like molting time is over for the cardinals. Here’s one that has almost all his feathers back, and they’re really bright red.
3:35 AM – This Carolina Wren has no tail. We’ve seen this before, about six months ago. Since we’re inexperienced backyard-birders, we didn’t think the loss of tail feathers might be natural molting. We assumed it was caused by a narrow escape from a cat. Who knows, maybe it was, but molting is more likely. One way or another, the wren doesn’t have any trouble getting around.
This batch of Carolina Chickadees are in-and-out, one after another, while Mrs. Cardinal placidly grazes at the Squirrel Buster feeder. Chickadees are a lot of fun to watch.