5:47 AM – We had some rain yesterday afternoon. This is what a Blue Jay looks like after it’s rained on for a while. Of course, this doesn’t stop it from eating.
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One of the squirrels was also out in the rain. This really looks like he’s using his tail as an umbrella.
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From a few days ago, here’s a Blue Jay having lunch, and discovering some peanuts D added to the mix. Peanuts are very popular around here.
3:57 AM – We’re not sure, but it looks like we’ve got at least two different Blue Jays. Take a look.
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Here’s a couple of the bluebird kids sharing the mealworm feeder. Their coloring seems to be getting a little clearer. The one on the right is a male, and getting bluer, while the other is probably a female, and staying gray.
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Finally, this video combines a couple of visitors we haven’t seen for a while – a Hummingbird (Ruby Throated, I think) returns to the Foodcourt, and the squirrel with one ear is back. At least I think it’s the same one-eared guy. I couldn’t find the old video to compare, but how many one-ears can there be in one Foodcourt?
3:28 AM – A few days ago we reported our scheme to seed the platform feeder with pieces of the ‘pepper’ suet, with the expectation that it would repel the squirrels and raccoons. We had a video showing a squirrel checking out the feeder, and then moving on. Well, it turns out that, no, the squirrels didn’t fall for this trick. See here, as this one takes a victory lap around the feeder and birdbath, then parks himself in the middle of the pepper suet/black oil seed mix. Our only hope is that the juvenile delinquent bluebirds will show up and run him off.
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The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a much more frequent visitor than he used to be. He used to stick to the suet feeder, but he’s now at the platform and mealworm feeders also.
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The young bluebirds are still around. In this video, they’re getting feed by the adult male bluebird. They don’t assault any of the other bird species, for a change.
3:44 AM – Starting off with a brief clip of one of the recently returned Blue Jays:
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The young bluebirds are back, this time learning to take baths.
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And finally, some good news about the Foodcourt management problem of voracious squirrels. We recently replaced the cylinder in the suet feeder, the pepper suet feeder. The few bits left from the old cylinder of packed seeds impregnated with pepper juice of some kind, we put into the platform feeder. Watch this squirrel finding that out. If this little bit of pepper suet also works as a deterrent for the raccoons it will save us the aggravation of taking in feeders at night. I almost feel bad for the squirrel, he looks disappointed.
12:13 AM – This squirrel was squatting in the platform feeder when D. spotted him, and decided to run him off. Check out the expression on his squirrel face when he hears the back door start to open.
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And now, the escape in slow motion:
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Just when we think the Purple Finches are gone for good, there they are.
7:40 AM – The finches – both the Purple and Goldfinches – seem to have moved on. I spotted a couple of female Purples on the suet feeder the other day, but the clouds of them that dominated the platform feeder are gone. Instead, we have Mourning Doves, sparrows and squirrels. Plus, of course, the Cardinals.
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This is the squirrel with piece bitten out of his ear. He’s a frequent visitor.
7:10 AM – I guess it’s mating season for the squirrels. This looks like squirrel stalking behavior to me, but I’m not a naturalist, or even close to it. Still, that’s what it looks like.
4:19 AM – This video posted because, what’s a day without seeing a Bluebird gorging himself on mealworms?
7:49 AM – There’s been increased squirrel activity, including squirrels hunkering down in the platform feeder. We run them off when we see them, but it’s really impossible to stop them from hogging the food. The hanging feeders – the Squirrel Buster brand – work very well to keep them out, but platform feeders are vulnerable to squatters. That’s the downside. On the upside, they can be entertaining:
2:03 AM – Breakfast with the Bluebirds:
2:24 PM – Not many squirrels have been in the feeder the last few months, but today they seem to be back in action. Here’s one squatting in the platform feeder. This one’s right ear has been slightly shredded – it’s visible at the end of the video. There’s another visitor that has only one ear. Evidently squirrel territorial disputes can get intense. Not easy being a wild animal.
8:14 AM – Recently there’s been a drop-off in the numbers of sparrows (and other small birds) at the platform feeder. We changed the seed mix to fewer black oil sunflowers, and more of the blend of smaller seeds. Usually we’ve been getting one or two sparrows at a time. A few minutes after we put out the new mix, the sparrows started gathering.
Also, note Bluebird drinking in the background. Now that the mealworm feeder is on the deck, we’re seeing a lot of them at the watering hole.
5:58 AM – Yesterday’s rain created a lake of birdseed in the platform feeder. Here’s one of our squirrels checking it out:
Red Bellied Woodpecker at the suet feeder. He’s a vigorous eater.