1:00 AM – A Brown-headed Nuthatch showed up on the hanging feeder yesterday. We haven’t seen one in many months. In fact, we haven’t seen its cousin, the White-breast Nuthatch for a while, and they used to be quite common.
Here’s a squirrel trying to get something out of the hanging feeder, and finding out why they call it the Squirrel Buster. It was possibly two different squirrels, or just one very persistent one.
1:00 AM – Yesterday we had the female House Finch feeding a young one. Today, we see a male House Finch doing the same.
The domestic House Finch behavior seems to be part of an influx of House Finches. Several of the Finches appear to be young, so I’m speculating that a brood of them left the nest and came to the platform feeder.
Squirrel posing in the platform feeder, like a little rodent fashion model.
1:00 AM – Here’s a good video of Mr. Cardinal bathing. He’s really thorough, and seems to be enjoying himself. Maybe not. It’s hard to tell bird emotions.
Something unusual – three birds of different species drinking at the same time. As I watched, I expected to see a fight break out, but nothing happened. Maybe the abundance of food and water here has made the birds more agreeable.
The first part of this video is in slow motion, showing a squirrel with his paws in the water, before scampering off. The second part shows a squirrel (possibly the same one) getting a dainty drink of water.
1:00 AM – Here’s a Carolina Wren taking a vigorous bath, splashing water on the camera lens.
This was taken with the Nikon camera. It’s shaky because I’m not using a tripod, unfortunately. The cat is grooming himself, but he’s in a good position to watch the birds and squirrels feeding all over the yard.
Another hand-held video taken with the Nikon. The birds, and particularly the squirrels are a lot less skittish. I can sit on the deck and they’ll go ahead and feed. Like this cheeky squirrel. I was sitting about two yards away.
1:00 AM – Cardinal on the platform feeder, displaying to catch the attention of a female. If he was successful, the meeting occurred off camera.
Here’s a squirrel on the Squirrel Buster feeder, and sure enough, he gets busted. He can’t get into the seed chamber without putting weight on the rail, and closing the hatch.
Another video of one of the departed Indigo Buntings. Too bad they’re not here year around.
1:00 AM – It looks like the Indigo Buntings have moved on. We still have some video from their visit. In this one, we see two Buntings mixing with some Finches. Those Buntings are beautiful birds, we’re going to miss them.
Our most frequent visitor is the squirrel. There’s no stopping them. Here’s one placidly eating the bird’s food.
We haven’t see any Bluebirds for several days now, but there are plenty of Carolina Chickadees, and Eastern Phoebes:
1:00 AM – Determined Indigo Bunting eating in the rain.
The squirrel in this video looks young, and unsure of himself. Something startles him, and…
Blue Jay, drinking. At the end when he jumps off the rail, he looks like a paratrooper going out the airplane door.
1:00 AM – Another video of the adventurous One-Eared Squirrel going for the cylinder feeder. We get a good view of his squirrel belly.
Birds on the cylinder feeder – a Cardinal and some Finches.
1:00 AM – We moved the bird bath and cameras around, and got decent videos of various birds drinking. In this one, we see a Tufted Titmouse, a Dove, Squirrel and two Finches. Nobody bathing yet.
Typical patrons of the cylinder feeder.
Not so typical patron of the cylinder feeder. But he’s really liking it.
1:00 AM – Today we celebrate the squirrels. We’ll start with a couple of videos of squirrels on the cylinder feeder. We didn’t think they’d every really disturb that one, since it’s loaded with hot pepper compressed seed. But at least one squirrel is untroubled by that (and guess which squirrel that is. In this first video, he’s figuring out how to approach the feeder, and in the process, knocks the camera down.
It’s the One-Eared Squirrel! We were wondering what he was up to. In this video, he’s gobbling red hot pepper seed. He doesn’t even hesitate.
Finally, here’s are two squirrels maneuvering for a spot on the platform feeder.