Feeding Wild Birds

[R2elk]

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I love the woodpeckers I have several pairs of Downy woodpeckers that frequent my feeders and at least one red-bellied. Maybe a few hairy ones too but I've yet to be certain with them. I'd absolutely love to see a pileated woodpecker out there one day. I've only ever seen one... and it was on a telephone pole, while I was at work, driving by. I only caught a quick glimpse.

 

[R2elk]

I was pleased to see the Mountain Chickadee. They normally winter on the mountain and not down here.

 

[R2elk]

First Red-winged blackbird of the year today. He was singing away.

 

[sourland]

'White bird' may have a mate. She and a male redtail were flying together yesterday when I got to the club. She left immediately as I pulled into the parking lot. She knows that 'man' is dangerous.

 

[TwoCrows]

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago, but a flock of 12 Evening Grosbeaks showed up for a couple of days only for Black Oil Sunflower seed earlier this month. This must be an "eruption year" for Evening Grosbeaks as I haven't seen them in 25 years.

 

[R2elk]

Northern Shrike

 

[sourland]

Thought that I heard one frog 'croak' while I was at the club. Went to check one of the vernal ponds and found two wood frog egg masses. They started breeding at the same time last year.

Tadpoles from these egg masses are starting to hatch as of today.

Took a trip to Annapolis, Md. yesterday. In the area of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge we saw three active Osprey nests. At one nest we witnessed one member of the pair returning with sticks to add to the nest.

 

[TwoCrows]

First hummer of the season! A male Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Not the best photo through a screen. I heard him before I saw him. Ran to get my phone, knowing he would buzz off any time and he did. (They are migrating north now, haven't seen him since this photo.)

 

[sourland]

Temperatures in the mid 70's and toads are courting.