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claireplymouth

Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2012 #1

This thread is intended to give people a place to post photos and/or talk about birds, critters, wildlife, fish, whatever - topics you might not want to start a whole thread on, but are still garden-related. You can see the range of possible topics in the previous threads:

The list is getting unwieldy so I'll follow pixie_lou's lead (in the Show us Your Landscape thread) and refer back to the Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2011 #6 post for a list of all the threads prior to 2012.

I'll start off the New Year with a rather serene, and very shiny, crow surveying the yard from a shepherd's hook. The hook holds nyjer feeders so the goldfinches stayed away until the crow was gone.

I don't have crops to worry about so I can freely enjoy the crows.

Claire

Comments (60)

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    I'm glad you found the camera! These guys are everywhere lately. Of course, a busy bird feeder doesn't help, but what a chase this guy gave yesterday afternoon to a small little bird from my yard. An incredibly fast and agile aerial pursuit took place just after snapping this through my office window (while on the phone and the person never knew it,lol):


    They left my field of vision, so I don't know how the chase ended. Raptors do have wondrous eyes as well seen in your capture, Claire. Well done.

    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Jane: They sure are everywhere, at least they're here every day. I don't always see them, but I'll look out and suddenly not a bird in sight. I'll wait and either see the hawk fly off or some intrepid bird (often a chickadee) will decide the coast is clear and lead the way to the feeders.

    I understand about taking a photo while taking on the phone. I took my first (and maybe last) helicopter flight a few years ago at the Cranberry Festival in Wareham. The helicopter flew over the bogs with lovely fall foliage in the surrounding wooded area.

    I was in the front seat, which feels like you're hanging in space about to fall down, and I don't much like heights. However, I wasn't about to miss the photo op so I managed to shoot almost continuously, even changing the settings with one hand while the other hand had a death grip on the rail. It was a beautiful albeit nerve-wracking flight.

    Claire

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Forgot to mention: a squirrel drank from the other bird bath apparently not caring about the fox's scent. Either it's a case of 'out of sight, out of mind', or maybe my whole yard smells of fox all the time.

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Had a twist on 'Catch and Release' at my house this morning. The recycle garbage pail is in the garage, which has a cat hole in the back. I tossed in one small can and plastic container - both clean and dry. It was dark because the doors were closed but I had enough light to see that the big black plastic bag liner wasn't there. After I tossed and heard no noise, I thought, "Damn and Blast! I know I put a bag in there!" Looked into the big garbage pail and saw this old fella curled up under the cherry tomato container:

    We carried the garbage pail out to the back border and tipped him out so he could go back into the huge brush pile at the neighbor's where he lives:

    He wasn't anxious to leave his garbage pail hideaway, but I kept softly saying, "Come on, honey, off you go. You'll be alright.", even though I got a backwards glance that wished I had left him one scallop from my latest doggy bag which he shredded. He made it home safely.

    Kindly, Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    You brute! (from the possum's viewpoint) It was nice and warm in there too, the only problem being that the humans keep throwing things at me while I'm just trying to snooze.

    Or maybe the possum was trapped and couldn't climb out? In that case, you weren't a brute but a savior (from the possums viewpoint).

    Really a beautiful animal.

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    He was trapped and couldn't climb out. Fell in during the night sometime and despite being noctural, I figured being rescued in daylight was better than being trapped without water, food, and sitting in his own waste. It's a 55gal. pail and he was right on the bottom: (overexposed picture to show him)


    A chubby little old guy who made it home safely. If you have to have a wild animal in your garage, this is the one to have!

  • franeli
    12 years ago

    What great photos!
    Here is a porcupine having a daytime snooze high in a hemlock in my woods. At the tree base were masses of branch tips.

    {{gwi:1053801}}

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Porcupines climb trees? - and sleep there? I didn't know that! I never really thought much about the porcupine's lifestyle, never having met one here, so it's a whole new thing to look into.

    It looks like a big gall with spines, or another form of witch's broom.

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    What a great experience franeli! Cute little guy. I knew almost nothing about porcupines until I saw your picture and Googled. What an amazing animal! Onboard antibiotic if he falls on his own quills? Genius...pure genius. These rodents have an exceptional 30 million year history. Thanks for posting...yup, they love coniferous woods. Good learning lesson - thanks.

    Jane

  • pixie_lou
    12 years ago

    Wow - a porcupine. I don't think I've ever seen one in the wild.

    I've had lots of bird activity in the yard recently. I was amazed to see the heron walking on the pond ice - one of the few days we actually had a bit of ice on the pond.

    I think this is a tufted titmouse - stopping in to eat some bread I left on the porch railing.

    A woodpecker on the suet feeder.

    Mama Cardinal scrounging under the bird feeders

    Papa cardinal in a nearby tree

    A black capped chickadee in a nearby tree

  • terrene
    12 years ago

    Hi guys, I'm enjoying the animal and bird pictures! That fox looks very healthy, I saw a scraggly looking fox wander through the yard the other day.

    My squirrels are extremely fat this year. I was away for quite awhile during Christmas, only throw them a handful of sunflower seeds each day, and my feeders are baffled, so this isn't because of feeder food. I think it's because the Sugar maples made abundant seeds this fall. The squirrels were up there chewing seeds for weeks. There were so many seeds I though there was something wrong with the trees. I was relieved to find out that Acer saccharum seeds heavily only every 2-5 years.

    I was eating some trail mix and threw this guy a peanut:


    He/she came up the deck begging for another peanut:

    Finally started Project Feederwatch last week. I'm excited because there are more Bluebirds this year than ever before. Sometimes there are about 12 of them out there. It's hard to tell the exact number, they're flying aroung too much, coming down to eat suet nuggets at the tray.

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    pixie_lou: That heron looks like it's strolling over to its ice fishing house, ready for a day fishing in a nice snug shelter with a six-pack at its side.

    terrene: When your squirrels walk on the deck, do you hear a strange sucking sound? As if the feet have little suckers on them grabbing the wood? I noticed it last fall when I was putting sunflower seeds out on the deck for the chipmunks, and the squirrels would sneak over and eat the seeds.

    Those bluebirds are gorgeous!

    Claire

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Cold this morning, 10 deg. F, and many of the birds are fluffier than usual.

    Two crows, maybe youngsters, on a feeder hook. I often see two together on this feeder. In this case I think they're waiting for the turkeys to go away.

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    "When your squirrels walk on the deck, do you hear a strange sucking sound?"

    Could they be Plumber Squirrels?

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    or maybe a gecko x squirrel hybrid....

    Claire

  • terrene
    12 years ago

    Hi Claire, no I didn't notice any strange sound. But then, that is the first time a squirrel has come that close when I was out on the deck. I was surprised at how inquisitive it was.

    Boy was it cold this morning, it was a Project Feederwatch day today and the birds definitely looked fluffier than usual. :)

  • NHBabs z4b-5a NH
    12 years ago

    I am enjoying all the photos - thanks! Last Wednesday just before the weather turned snowy and then cold, we had the biggest flock of turkeys I have ever seen, something like 50. They were too far down the cornfield to take a photo, though. Probably looking for whatever gleanings were left in the field before they were covered with snow.

    Franeli - Thanks for the observations about the hemlock tips and and the porcupine. I have seen porcupines in the woods and also seen in other areas hemlock branch tips littering the ground, but hadn't mad a mental association between the porcupines and the branch tips.

    Claire -

    Your fox is beautiful and looks quite healthy. I can't tell from the photo if it's a red fox or a gray fox - both occur in New England and in general have reddish or grayish fur. The red fox has a white tail tip (several inches) and the gray has the whole tail the same color without the white end, but between the lighting, the focus and the whole tail not showing, I can't tell which you have. Maybe you will spot it again and can check. We have red foxes quite commonly, and had the privilege of having a mama raise a pair of kits nearby a couple of summers ago. It was delightful to watch the young ones playing along the edge of the cornfield and in the back meadow and it was lovely having fewer rodents around! We still see her sometimes, but she has moved her den for the past two summers.

  • Steve Massachusetts
    12 years ago

    I'm participating in Project Feeder Watch this year also. Today I decided to take some photos. Lots of Cardinals today.

    I think this is a White Throated Sparrow. If someone has a different ID, please let me know.
    {{gwi:1053816}}

    Downey Woodpecker
    {{gwi:1053817}}

    Mourning Dove and Female Cardinal
    {{gwi:1053818}}

    Male Cardinal and Junco
    {{gwi:1053819}}

    This, I believe, is a Hairy Woodpecker. It's larger than the Downey and has a longer beak. He wouldn't come down from the top of the Maple Tree so this was as close as I could get.
    {{gwi:1053820}}

    Carolina Wren. I love the curved beak on this little guy.
    {{gwi:1053821}}

    White Breasted Nut Hatch
    {{gwi:1053822}}

    Female Cardinal in a Bloodgood JM
    {{gwi:1053823}}

    Another Female Cardinal
    {{gwi:1053824}}

    Finally spotted a male Cardinal in the Rhody
    {{gwi:1053825}}

    Tufted Titmice (Titmouses?)
    {{gwi:1053826}}

    Steve

  • mskee
    12 years ago

    Steve,
    I love your images, I think my favorites are the Tufted Titmice (?). Their expressions seem to exude innocence!

    Your first sparrow is a Song Sparrow, I believe. The White Throat does not have that breast streaking...another way to i.d. the Song Sparrow is that central breast dark spot.

    I also love the picture of the female cardinal in the tree. That reddish branch complements her coloring very well!

    Nice shots!

    Emily
    Western MA

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Steve: You have snow! None here to show off the birds' colors. Very nice photos and you have a good selection of winter birds for Massachusetts.

    I agree with Emily - that first sparrow is a Song Sparrow, not a White-throated Sparrow. If you already submitted your PFW report, you can edit it easily. I just edited some reports a few weeks ago when I erroneously identified a sparrow as Savannah, not Song. The Project FeederWatch people are very accessible by email - all you have to do is email them a photo and they'll confirm or correct your identification. I email them a lot (I've been wrong many times).

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Good assortment above of our New England backyard 'mobiles'. Anybody have a moose? This morning a pair of Cooper's stayed high in a maple whilst the crows protected (and conquered) the chicken scraps. I usually see the hawks facing the camera, this morning I noticed their wonderful camouflage. Never thought of their backs as lichen-matching feathers, but it sure looks that way.


    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Perceptive observation, Jane, about the camouflaged back. Lots of hawks seem to have that coloration, so it may well be useful (I'm going hunting wearing my tree costume, nothing will expect a tree to swoop down on it...).

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    This pair of Mourning Doves are perfect opposites - must be true love. One can sleep through almost anything:

    And the mate, well, not so much:

    Maybe resting side by side would have been wiser:


    I feel lucky to have 8 pairs Mourning Doves feeding here. Been a busy morning this morning!

    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    You are indeed lucky to have 8 pairs of Mourning Doves, Jane - for a while this fall I had none (-0-). Lately I've only seen one or two, and that sporadically. I suspect the hawks have been too successful.

    The second dove in your pic looks like a pine cone. Another form of camouflage, perhaps?

    I have a new suet feeder, two sided with a tail prop for the woodpeckers. Supposedly woodpeckers use the tail to stabilize themselves when feeding on trees.

    This downy does look more comfortable than on my usual suet cages. This was taken earlier today when there was just a little snow falling.

    This Carolina Wren seems to be huddling under the canopy when the snow was falling faster.

    That lump of snow under the feeder is actually a squirrel baffle.

    The maps show the back end of the snowstorm getting closer, which is good because I'm getting really tired of going out and sweeping the snow away for the birds.

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    That's a very nice suet feeder, Claire. I'm sure they appreciate a dry space to eat.

    This morning first thing, no coffee, lousy lighting, but there he was on the suet cake: My first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Never seen one before, it was pure good timing because after he got a chunk, he was off.



    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Wow! That sure looks like a male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and two great shots, to boot! I've never seen one either, so I just looked it up in my Sibley guide.

    Not your every day feeder visitor.

    Claire

  • Steve Massachusetts
    12 years ago

    Great pic of that Yellow Bellied Sapsucker. I'd love to see one someday.

    Today this guy was in the Maple tree overlooking the bird feeders. Is it a Cooper's Hawk?
    {{gwi:1053836}}

    {{gwi:1053837}}

    {{gwi:1053838}}

    Steve

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Steve: Adult Cooper's Hawk all right, and well-photographed. PFW has a great site on Tricky Bird IDs: Sharp-shinned Hawk and Cooper's Hawk. That look of a cap on the head (Cooper's) rather than a hood (Sharpie) is very clear here.

    There's more identification tips on the Accipiter Photo Gallery.

    It's very subjective, but to me the Cooper's looks much more commanding - the sharpie looks a little more hopeful. Of course, to a small bird that doesn't much matter.

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Good pictures, Steve, and one of those breeds of hawk is responsible for my untouched feeder today. Today my backyard is still, not mobile. Yesterday morning I filled the feeder to the top before leaving to spend the day at Sachuset Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, RI in search of Harlequin Ducks (found them). This morning, the feeder is still chock o' block full, but there is a ring of gray feathers on the ground under the feeder. It must have happened right after I left and as of 9:15am today, only a downy woodpecker has come to a suet feeder, juncos warily landed in a nearby cherry tree, and a solo mourning dove looked, but that's it. It'll be a quiet day as the witnesses from yesterday's event remain wise, weary, and wary.

    Found a link that explains this happening simply and well, I think.

    Jane

    Here is a link that might be useful: Hawks Killing at Feeder-NJ Aududbon

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    That's an excellent article, Jane. Thanks.

    This statement particularly struck me.
    "Always remember, in choosing to concentrate birds in your yard by offering them food, you have not caused birds to be killed. You have only caused them to be killed where you will see them."

    Claire(who always flinches at the mound of Mourning Dove feathers)

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    SOOOOO excited!! I captured a white headed cardinal this morning. Something told me to look out the window and there she was in the heritage birch! Camera kept clicking and I've posted a link below to my Picasa album if anyone wants to see more pictures of her. I will send her to Cornell, but have read that 1% or less of cardinals have any albino traits. She is beautiful! Boy, I think I got lucky! As did her mate!

    Jane

    Here is a link that might be useful: Cardinals - Picasa

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    What a pretty little bird! The coloration looks as if it belongs that way, not like it's an aberration. Please let us know what Cornell says.

    A very, very lucky find!

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Just found it - it's called 'Leucism' - not truly an albino trait. Here is what Cornell says:

    Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell Ornithology Dept. Leucism

  • WendyB 5A/MA
    12 years ago

    Robins??? is it spring already? There are dozens and dozens of robins all over my crabapple tree lately. I've never noticed them doing this before.

    I hope they do a good job. Cleaning up all the berry remnants on the lawn each spring is a pain.

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Ah, the fruit harvest migrants have arrived, wendyb. I haven't seen any robins since they (and the cedar waxwings) cleaned out my winterberry.

    I still have holly berries, so they may be back later this winter.

    I've seen robins in the neighborhood during the February Great Backyard Bird Count, so they hang around here all winter. Prevailing theory is that the New England robins go south for the winter, to be replaced by Canadian robins who consider New England to be south enough for them.

    Claire

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Temperatures in the mid-forties this morning, and the turkeys are feeling a bit randy. This tom strutted across the street with his entourage of male teenagers surrounding him. The youngsters were running in circles while the tom proceeded in all his glory. The hens quietly went elsewhere, perhaps being a bit more sensible (not a good season to raise babies).

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Love those turkeys. I think you're right, Claire, there must be something about the higher temps that is signaling the males. Saw male Mallard ducks with very puffed out chests in a marsh yesterday while the females snoozed through the show.

    But here at home, the Goldfinches' color is changing and they're eating up a storm.


    And the Blue Birds seem to be discussing something private. Many more Blue birds than a month ago - and more Goldfinches.

    Jane

  • pixie_lou
    12 years ago

    I was surprised to wake up this morning to see about a dozen mallards out on the pond. It looked like only 1 female in a pond full of males.

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    This is only the second time in 37 years here that I have seen a Pileated (pie-lee-ate-ed)Woodpecker in my yard. He was here no more than 40 seconds this afternoon, I was lucky to get a set of 6 shots. Adult male, stands 16.5" high, wingspan of 29", weighs 10 oz....amazing. He's the largest woodpecker in North America.


    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Bravo! I've never seen one at all - great catch! See, there's a reason to spend all day looking out the window with the camera ready...

    Claire

  • capecodder
    12 years ago

    I so enjoyed all these pics! Claire, I wish you'd send some of your foxes to my yard...we have obese rabbits and really obese squirrels...I have lots of bird feeders and often see the rabbits under them. Lots of birds too of course.

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    This Black-capped Chickadee drew my attention to the green developing in the aronia (chokeberry) bush outside my window. Last year the berries were gleaned by this time. This year, new buds are forming in the shadow of last year's fruit.

    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Rather elegant looking chickadee - usually they look perky, not elegant. A fine bird either way.

    Claire

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Not elegant, or perky, but very relaxed. This turkey (a hen, I think) was resting today amid some shrubs. It was right next to a feeder area so the buffet table was close at hand. It was a nice warm day today and my yard was littered with turkeys lounging around.

    And a closeup:

    Claire

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Thanks to the above turkey hen, I've learned that the red 'skin tags' are called caruncles, L.caruncula, meaning little piece of flesh. Looks like maybe her feathers are in red curlers.

    Anyway, the red wing blackbirds arrived yesterday - first I've seen this year despite 'the winter that wasn't'.

    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    You've got two grackles too! I've still only seen one red-wing and one grackle - they're probably having second thoughts about the early arrival since it snowed this morning. Didn't last long and didn't stick.

    Claire (waiting for the big flocks to descend on the feeders)

  • corunum z6 CT
    12 years ago

    Oh, they all showed up - grackles, RW blackbirds and cowbirds. That interesting grouping gleaned and cleaned en masse. Even though the robins winter here as long as there is food, last year at this time this chokeberry had been picked clean.

    And yes, it's been very windy.

    Jane

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    The full mob hasn't reached here yet, but I did see 5 red-wings and one grackle today.

    Your jay looks rather dapper with the fluffed feathers. A few years ago, at the end of December, 2008, I photographed a song sparrow that REALLY had a bad hair day (bad feather day?).

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    I just started a new thread, Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2012 #2, which should load easier.

    Claire

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    Original Author
    11 years ago

    All "Birds and other mobile features in the garden" threads from 2008 to 2011 are now in the New England Gardening Forum Gallery (switch from Discussions to the Gallery at the top of the main forum page).

    Claire