Wednesday February 1, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; feeding on oilseed feeders and ground foraging.
Common Redpolls
Tuesday January 31, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; around on and off throughout the day; feeding on oilseeds; also feeding high in an adjacent maple tree? ((possible aphid hatch seems impossible with the season, although perhaps they have been fooled by these warm temperatures in the day?)
Common Raven
Monday January 30, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; the local breeding pair flew into the pear tree and both fed on a suet cake; male also was a little "nestie, nestie" and was checking out bird houses.
Blue Jays
Sunday January 22, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; on flat feeder.
House Sparrows
Sunday January 22, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; SPA day and everybody is catching up on personal grooming with a thorough bath; birds are not overall soaked to the skin, and all shake and preen the water residue from flight feathers first! (these feathers are critical for fast departures when threatened by predators)
Blue Jay
Friday January 20, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; on flat feeder.
House Sparrows
Friday January 20, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; very skittish and fed in small waves; have noticed that they have switched from oilseeds to fruit and nut mix.
-appeared to be a scouting party searching for a good crop of berries; unfortunately most of the crop had already been eaten late last year; we also cut down our grown- from- seed crab apple tree, which also used to produce an abundance of tiny fruits.
House Sparrows
Wednesday January 18, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere.
Blue Jays
Wednesday January 18, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; visiting the flat feeder, "gulleting" down a few morsels and flying into cover (usually a spruce) to finish or stash the meal.
Common Ravens
Wednesday January 18, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-saw these two "separately", about an hour apart, heading west on the home run to somewhere; have seen them east in the AM, near restaurants and shopping centres on their early run.:o))
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; haven't been around much recently; had to bang the feeders to free up access to seed; high winds overnight packed most of the holes with blowing snow.
House Finches
Sunday January 15, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; had to bang the feeders to free up access to seed; high winds overnight packed most of the holes with blowing snow.
Common Ravens
Saturday January 14, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-(suspect a pair) covering the immediate neighborhood for food morsels.Kroark. Kroark!
House Sparrows
Saturday January 14, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; heavy feeding everywhere!
House Finches
Saturday January 14, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; 2 pair, feeding pretty steadily on oilseeds.
House Sparrows
Tuesday January 10, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere! Very skittish in extreme gusty winds!
-backyard; FIRST time that these birds have visited the heated bath for a drink; also feasting on oilseeds; this shot of a male.
House Sparrows
Monday January 9, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere!
Common Redpolls
Monday January 9, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; HEARD in adjacent property; my guess is a flock of approx. 15.
Common Redpolls
Sunday January 8, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; flew into the pear tree, had a quick look around, then off they went, together.
House Finches
Sunday January 8, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; male and 2 females feeding briefly on oilseeds, then in typical fashion, stepping up higher in a tree, cleaning the beak thoroughly and finally checking to see if the coast is clear--------then departing! :o))
House Sparrows
Sunday January 8, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere, and quite a bit of posturing by the males! Also a lot of in and out the nest box holes.(kinda "springy" today; very uncharacteristic "winter" weather!
-backyard; only saw one today! The rest are probably at that gourmet avian restaurant! :o))
House Sparrows
Friday January 6, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; usual bandits! :o))
House Finch
Friday January 6, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; only one female today, feeding on oilseeds; starting to wonder if someone around here has opened up a gourmet avian restaurant! Gonna have to check out the competition!HA!
Blue Jays
Thursday January 5, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-adjacent property.
House Sparrows
Thursday January 5, 2012
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard, but still not attracted to any of the feeders; shot this through the kitchen window and couldn't capture the detail that I wanted; also heard this flock an adjacent property, where I suspect they were eating birch seeds.
House Sparrows
Friday December 30, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; seems that the whole neighborhood flock was here today enjoying feeding from feeders, foraging and dipping in the "Spa"!
House Finches
Friday December 30, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; two males and a female on the oilseed feeders.
House Finches
Monday December 26, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; usual pair that dropped in for a few oilseeds and then departed; it seems that we only get numbers of this species when the "chips are down" and we are experiencing low temperatures; with this pair are House Sparrows----everywhere! The House Sparrows sporadically charge to cover, most of the time for false alarms, and the House Finch pair hold their ground.
House Sparrows
Monday December 26, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere; sporadic run and gun feeding behavior reaction to false alarms, and the House Finch pair hold their ground.
Common Redpolls
Thursday December 22, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; part of the flock still seem to be working up the courage to try feeding, but are still pretty jumpy; briefly saw a lighter specimen, which I hope returns tomorrow.
Wednesday December 21, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; just one on this day (Dec 15th).
House Sparrows
Wednesday December 21, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere, including vacant bird houses and heated bath.
Common Redpolls
Wednesday December 21, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere, but not feeding on feeders; instead, were in the cedars, sampling the snow that was melting in the bright sun; stayed for for for short periods of 10 minutes, departed and returned three times.
Thursday December 15, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; actually got this shot on Oct 10, 2011, but am using it to introduce the "look-a-like puzzle"- Cornell had a great comparison between the Sharp-shinned Hawk and the Cooper's Hawk : http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/learning/trickyIDs/copy_of_sharp-shinned-and-cooper-s-hawks/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=df8775ed02-GBBC_eNewsletter_December_201212_9_2011&utm_medium=email
- the Merlin shot is not unlike the other two species that are compared (check the white PJs & eyebrow, dark eye and the wing tips that extend 2/3 of the length of the tail!
House Sparrows
Monday December 12, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; usual gang, everywhere!
Downy Woodpecker
Monday December 12, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; usual female on suet and seed pie; "worked" the pear tree in usual fashion. Maybe she's trying to "drum" in her partner, who we very rarely see! Personally, I think he may be seeing another girl! HA! (We know that there are 2 females and have seen them occasionally together, avoiding each other!) :o))
Common Redpolls
Monday December 12, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard, but high in the trees and not coming down to feed.
House Sparrows
Saturday December 10, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; FIRST time that I've seen a chickadee on a thistle feeder; still have not seen them on a slit- hole tubular, although it looks like they may be encouraged to the bucket- style tubular, where the seed can be taken more easily; because of the size of the seeds, this individual stayed on the perch to eat the seed.
Blue Jay
Friday December 9, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; just one today; I need to get more peanuts tomorrow and see if the rest of the group return; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard; resident breeding pair; lots more bird activity today!
House Sparrows
Friday December 9, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere, including the bath; lots more bird activity today!
Common Redpolls
Friday December 9, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; nice to have a few of these little ones come for a visit, although they still didn't come down to the thistle seed feeders; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard regular pair; of the two, the female prefers a little suet with her oilseeds.
House Sparrows
Thursday December 8, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; still pretty skittish! Beginning to feed more like chickadees and nuthatches, where it's more difficult to get a fix on them! Smart, when there is more active predation.
-backyard; usual pair, and I noticed that they will stash, but sometimes will wedge the food item in a nook or cranny in the bark of a tree, then pulverize it with woodpecker- type blows and swallow the smaller pieces on the spot.
House Finches
Sunday December 4, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; I think one of the longest periods where NO BIRDS visited; suspect predators, but couldn't locate them.
House Sparrows
Saturday December 3, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; I think one of the longest periods where NO BIRDS visited; suspect predators, but couldn't locate them.
Downy Woodpeckers
Wednesday November 30, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; saw one bird become suddenly defensive by "trunk hugging" (keeps the trunk between them and what they perceive as a threat); turns out it was another female Downy! :o)) Neither bird stayed very long.
-backyard; well Joyce, it didn't take long for them to show up over here! Luv these little guys! Have a hunch that there is more for tomorrow.
Rock Pigeons
Saturday November 26, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-adjacent property, foraging beneath a grove of spruce trees, presumably dining on spruce seeds; another interesting adaptation about this family, is their ability to suck water while drinking, instead of dipping and then tipping back to swallow!
-thought that it was especially quiet!---NO birds, then discovered why! This Merlin was sitting two lots over, waiting for the birds to return, but I suspect that the word had got around; this bird waited for 1 hour and finally left, after no birds returned; (suspect that amount of patience is dependent on when the last meal was).
-backyard feeding & stashing oilseeds and visiting the new suet cake that I put up; local breeding pair; I always wonder if there was a this year's family and if there was, where do they disperse to, as we seem to never see more than two; of course we make the assumption that it's the same pair. :o))
Downy Woodpecker
Thursday November 24, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; regular female on one of the new suet cakes that I put up;
-backyard; only saw the male today on his favorite oilseed feeder (""Giant Tiger" store, last year)
House Sparrows
Tuesday November 22, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; took down an old martin house and put up an older metal one; filled the compartments with "commercial" nesting material & insulated the lower deck only, to see if there was a preference (so far, a dominant male has claimed an upper for a bachelor suite):o))
Downy Woodpecker
Tuesday November 22, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; female was back doing the usual rounds on the suet and Wild Bird Seed Pie ( "Superstore") and foraging on the tree trunks and branches.
-backyard; these two were doing a fair amount of "fencing" along with their feeding on the nut and oilseed feeders. (suspect a parent & offspring or an individual from another nesting family)
Downy Woodpecker
Monday November 21, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; see this girl more often than her partner; today she was feeding on the suet cakes.
-backyard; this is the first year that Magpies have been regular visitors to the flat feeder, which is located just outside the dining room window; it seems that they arrive when the jays do and compete for feeding rights; in the past they have ground foraged, hunted mice and only occasionally used the flat feeder.
Blue Jays
Friday November 18, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; nice to see reserve numbers when nature has taken one for a meal! One of these birds came back to have a private drink from the heated- bath at sunset.
House Finches
Friday November 18, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; WORD HAS GOT AROUND!-----about food availability during this sudden COLD spell; suspect that a good portion of the neighborhood House Finches are visiting! Have never seen so many in our backyard! :o))
-found this shot which confirms what I expected, that a Blue Jay was the victim; I had noted that there were a lot of gray feathers floating in the wind from the eating perch, and the next day we were short 1 of our regular Blue Jay visitors.
-we weren't the only ones having lunch; saw plucked feathers blowing gently in the breeze and found this first year at the "table"; foot of prey had 3 toes forward and 1 toe back; also found a partial male House Finch head under the same tree! Not sure that this body goes with that head; tail seems a little long? (Kinda feel like we are the local packing plant).
Common Ravens
Monday November 14, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-adjacent property; 2 pairs, each heading the same direction; generally east in the early morning and west in the late afternoon.
Blue Jays
Monday November 14, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; local pair, panic feeding on nut and oilseed feeders.
House Finches
Monday November 14, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; panic feeding on nut and oilseed feeders.
Canada Geese
Monday November 14, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-heading southeasterly with the prevailing wind.
Common Ravens
Sunday November 13, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-first sighted was around 8:00 AM, as it passed by the backyard heading east; the second or possibly the same individual, flying westerly over the adjacent school ground at 5:00 PM.
-backyard; was hoping to see a return of the Brown Creeeper, so that I might get a shot of this little "mouse"; closest I came was this little guy, who was visiting with his partner. (lots of nattering!) :o))
Brown Creeper
Saturday November 12, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-while sitting at the kitchen table, my wife spotted this little one heading up a tree trunk; I got a quick look to confirm and then bolted for my camera! Too Late! HA!
Blue Jays
Saturday November 12, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-first time in quite a while, that the local pair visited feeders at the same time; they really seem to avoid each other, but always know exactly where the other is!! During their bee-line comings and goings, their up and down and around the trunk maneuvers, it's a challenge to separate one from the other! (black/ gray crown). HA!
Blue Jays
Tuesday November 8, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-four today, competing for nuts with a Magpie, on the flat feeder.
-backyard; this beautiful specimen (about 17 inches) had attempted a ground catch (mouse or House Sparrow), presumably without success, as it re-appeared and stayed in the pear tree for about 10 minutes without prey; the mottling on the back suggests an immature; the pear has hung on to some leaves which are perfect camouflage for a sit and wait bird.
Canada Geese
Sunday November 6, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-steady stream of migrating flocks flying over our neighborhood.
House Finches
Saturday November 5, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-most on oilseed feeder and a few foraging on the ground.
Blue Jays
Saturday November 5, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-travelled on errands through North Edmonton and found Magpies everywhere; their visibility seems to blossom once many of the American Crows have migrated for warmer temperatures. Magpies are resident year round.
House Sparrows
Saturday November 5, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-everywhere and enjoyed the heated- bath. Packed up the pond (and Goldfish) today, because of the very thick ice buildup from the waterfall. I move the frigid outdoor water and Goldfish inside to an aquarium, where the water temperature and fish can gradually move up to room temperature.
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
Blue Jays
Friday November 4, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food; these guys prefer the half-nuts top the whole nut! (kinda like a plate of mussels on the half shell! :o))
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food; have changed the position of our flat feeder slightly; it's a little lower and it is easier to see the visitors.
House Sparrows
Friday November 4, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food;our heated bird bath is fired up and the House Sparrows use it regularly to de-grease their feathers to improve their insulative value for the cold nights.
House Finches
Friday November 4, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food;
Canada Geese
Thursday November 3, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-flock of geese flying southwest; suspect this is a pull-out from Cherry Grove man-made Lake, in anticipation of the sudden drop in temperature we are experiencing.
Downy Woodpecker
Wednesday November 2, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; suspect the usual female that I once freed from a tangled string, hanging from nesting material in a bird house; she came to remind me to stock up the suet and woodpecker cake feeders. :o))
Common Ravens
Tuesday November 1, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-flying and cavorting in a southwesterly direction, south of the adjacent school ground; Kroark, Kroark! :o))
-backyard; these guys have been absent for a couple of weeks, but come back to the feeders when the cold weather begins to settle in; on oilseed feeders.
House Finches
Tuesday November 1, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; these guys have been absent for a couple of weeks, but come back to the feeders when the cold weather begins to settle in; on oilseed feeders.
House Sparrows
Sunday October 30, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-regular group of birds patrolling the adjacent school ground.
House Sparrows
Saturday October 29, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; everywhere, enjoying baths and cool drinks from the pond waterfall; having moving water in the backyard has really made a difference in the number of visitors that we get through the year. Keeping an eye open for Rosy-Finches that were sighted by a lady, about 60k from Edmonton, in a parking lot at Elk Island Park: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/ALBR.html
Blue Jays
Saturday October 29, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; the "3 Amigos" grabbing peanuts from the flat feeder, but always keeping one eye on the sky!
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; this individual led a flock of about 30 individuals over to the shore, about10 feet from me; sitting down and waiting for the birds to come to you, often buys a pretty good shot.
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
-remember this fellow from last year at around this time; goes by the name of "Mousetracker"; HA! Was looking in the usual places for scurrying mice and if he should see one, he becomes a skilled predator! :o))
-GOT 'EM! HA! Heard them, ("Kroark, Kroark") and bolted into the house to get my camera at MEGA speed, for an old guy! Almost missed them, for they had covered a lot of distance and were quite far away, as they flew beneath the clouds!
Blue Jays
Wednesday September 28, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-backyard; these guys are very "pushy" and demand 1/2 peanuts! HA!
Merlins
Wednesday September 28, 2011
near Lancaster Park, 01
-adjacent Park; this pair was in "play" mode and making a few of the ring-bills, crows and blue jays DUCK! HA!
-front yard; heard this noisy little carpenter; amazing how much zing they can put into pecking with that little chisel! Do you see a "Downy accipiter"? A birder's imagination builds birds! HA!
- sat down and waited with "patience", but couldn't convince this guy to come closer; I'd get him in my scope, put it down,grab the camera and he was under the water! @3!!7*** HA! The white cheek suggested the Horned , rather than the Eared; pre-winter plumage.
Most recent activity
All sightings >>
-loosely woven group returning westerly from a day's work; lots of aerobatics and small talk!
-hanging out with their black & white cousins in the spruces at the end of the block!
-backyard; waiting "patiently" for me to draw their bath!
-backyard; so nice to have these little "talkers" around!
-a little "Spring" get together, under and around a grove of spruce trees in the adjacent park! Lots of "conversation"!
Common Redpolls
-backyard; foraging on ground under the oilseed feeders;
Common Redpolls
-backyard; feeding on oilseed feeders and ground foraging.
-backyard; around on and off throughout the day; feeding on oilseeds; also feeding high in an adjacent maple tree? ((possible aphid hatch seems impossible with the season, although perhaps they have been fooled by these warm temperatures in the day?)
-heard this one on adjacent property.
-backyard; one on flat feeder and others throughout neighborhood.
-backyard; feeding on nut and oilseed feeders.
-backyard; female, feeding on a seed pie.
-backyard; everywhere including the heated- bath (my heater tries to keep the temperature just higher than freezing)
-backyard; heavy feeding on oilseeds;
-backyard; male, feeding on oilseeds;
Common Redpolls
-backyard; around most of the afternoon munching on oilseeds; this a male with red on the breast.
Common Redpolls
-backyard; around most of the afternoon munching on oilseeds; suspect this a female with no red on the breast or flanks.
-backyard; landed briefly in the pear tree and departed; not feeding.
-backyard; female on suet feeder.
-adjacent property, doing the early rounds.
-backyard; just one, flew right over me and said good day! (kroark, kroark, kroark) :o))
-backyard; breeding pair, each busy with their own agendas, yet generally staying in close proximity to one another.
-backyard; to the nut feeder and not for long.
-a flock, flying over adjacent school ground.
-backyard; to the suet feeder and not for long.
-backyard; on flat feeder and working the tall maple on adjacent property.
-backyard; on flat feeder, filling the gullet with peanut halves.
-backyard; everywhere.
-backyard; everywhere!
-flying over adjacent property.
-backyard; just the female today, feeding on a suet cake.
-backyard; local breeding pair; on suet and nattering inside adjacent spruce trees.
-adjacent property.
-adjacent property.
-backyard; everywhere including the heated bath, which, when I changed it later in the day, was a little muddy!
-backyard; the local breeding pair flew into the pear tree and both fed on a suet cake; male also was a little "nestie, nestie" and was checking out bird houses.
-backyard and adjacent property.
-backyard; female working the trees today.
-backyard; on oilseed, nut and flat feeders and a lot of splashing going on!
-backyard; on oilseed feeders and in the bath in groups; good mix of males and females.
-adjacent property, feeding on spruce seeds.
-adjacent property.
-backyard; on flat feeder.
-backyard; SPA day and everybody is catching up on personal grooming with a thorough bath; birds are not overall soaked to the skin, and all shake and preen the water residue from flight feathers first! (these feathers are critical for fast departures when threatened by predators)
-backyard; on flat feeder.
-backyard; very skittish and fed in small waves; have noticed that they have switched from oilseeds to fruit and nut mix.
-appeared to be a scouting party searching for a good crop of berries; unfortunately most of the crop had already been eaten late last year; we also cut down our grown- from- seed crab apple tree, which also used to produce an abundance of tiny fruits.
-backyard; only the male on suet cakes.
-backyard; everywhere.
-backyard; visiting the flat feeder, "gulleting" down a few morsels and flying into cover (usually a spruce) to finish or stash the meal.
-saw these two "separately", about an hour apart, heading west on the home run to somewhere; have seen them east in the AM, near restaurants and shopping centres on their early run.:o))
-backyard; magpies on flat feeder; presume nuts and corn pieces.
-backyard; all feeders; drinks from the heated bath (just keeps from freezing in these frigid temps, just in the middle) and the odd bath.
-backyard; just the male feeding on suet cakes.
-backyard; everywhere; had to bang the feeders to free up access to seed; high winds overnight packed most of the holes with blowing snow.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; haven't been around much recently; had to bang the feeders to free up access to seed; high winds overnight packed most of the holes with blowing snow.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders; had to bang the feeders to free up access to seed; high winds overnight packed most of the holes with blowing snow.
-(suspect a pair) covering the immediate neighborhood for food morsels.Kroark. Kroark!
-backyard; heavy feeding everywhere!
-backyard; 2 pair, feeding pretty steadily on oilseeds.
-backyard; everywhere! Very skittish in extreme gusty winds!
House Finches
-backyard; FIRST time that these birds have visited the heated bath for a drink; also feasting on oilseeds; this shot of a female.
House Finches
-backyard; FIRST time that these birds have visited the heated bath for a drink; also feasting on oilseeds; this shot of a male.
-backyard; everywhere!
-backyard; HEARD in adjacent property; my guess is a flock of approx. 15.
-backyard; flew into the pear tree, had a quick look around, then off they went, together.
-backyard; male and 2 females feeding briefly on oilseeds, then in typical fashion, stepping up higher in a tree, cleaning the beak thoroughly and finally checking to see if the coast is clear--------then departing! :o))
-backyard; everywhere, and quite a bit of posturing by the males! Also a lot of in and out the nest box holes.(kinda "springy" today; very uncharacteristic "winter" weather!
-backyard; my day of ones! Ground foraging in the adjacent schoolyard.
-backyard; only saw one today! The rest are probably at that gourmet avian restaurant! :o))
-backyard; usual bandits! :o))
-backyard; only one female today, feeding on oilseeds; starting to wonder if someone around here has opened up a gourmet avian restaurant! Gonna have to check out the competition!HA!
-adjacent property.
-backyard; everywhere!
-backyard; local pair; more trips to the nut feeder lately.
-backyard; usual neighborhood pair.
-backyard; had a drink from the water that I had just put out.
-backyard; everywhere and what was left of bath water, indicated that they were a "dirty" bunch! HA!
Common Redpolls
-backyard, but still not attracted to any of the feeders; shot this through the kitchen window and couldn't capture the detail that I wanted; also heard this flock an adjacent property, where I suspect they were eating birch seeds.
-backyard; seems that the whole neighborhood flock was here today enjoying feeding from feeders, foraging and dipping in the "Spa"!
-backyard; two males and a female on the oilseed feeders.
-backyard; this male sampling the suet cake and working the trees.
-backyard; these guys, along with the nuthatches, are among the first and last feeders of the day.
-backyard; just the usual female, covering most of the backyard.
-backyard; these guys, along with the chickadees, are among the first and last feeders of the day.
-backyard; everywhere! A little bit of panic in this last feed before turning- in for the night; sunset around 4:20 PM now.
-backyard; everywhere.
-backyard; usual female, concentrating on the peanut seed pie.
-backyard; everywhere but I didn't see them feeding; they departed when I returned from walking our dog.
-backyard; on oilseed and nut feeders.
-backyard; usual pair that dropped in for a few oilseeds and then departed; it seems that we only get numbers of this species when the "chips are down" and we are experiencing low temperatures; with this pair are House Sparrows----everywhere! The House Sparrows sporadically charge to cover, most of the time for false alarms, and the House Finch pair hold their ground.
-backyard; everywhere; sporadic run and gun feeding behavior reaction to false alarms, and the House Finch pair hold their ground.
-backyard; part of the flock still seem to be working up the courage to try feeding, but are still pretty jumpy; briefly saw a lighter specimen, which I hope returns tomorrow.
Common Redpolls
-backyard; actually taken on Dec 9; "hasta la vista, baby"!
Blue Jay
-backyard; just one on this day (Dec 15th).
-backyard; everywhere, including vacant bird houses and heated bath.
-backyard; everywhere, but not feeding on feeders; instead, were in the cedars, sampling the snow that was melting in the bright sun; stayed for for for short periods of 10 minutes, departed and returned three times.
-backyard and adjacent property; seems to be a pretty good representation of this species this winter.
-1 cruising east down back lane at about 2:00 PM and a group of 4 heading west over 156 Street and 95 Avenue at about 3:13 PM.
-backyard; limited number of feeding waves; spent time in the sun, perched in hedges and in the neighbor's densely branched pruned maple trees.
-backyard; regular neighborhood resident breeding pair; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; adjacent school ground.
-backyard; landed in birch clump and then moved on.
-backyard; flat feeder, especially the peanuts. :o))
-backyard; everywhere, including "nestie, nestie" behavior.
-backyard; everywhere!
-backyard; everywhere!
-backyard; everywhere!
-backyard; these guys were pretty active throughout the neighborhood and also visited the heated bath.
Merlin (Prairie)s
-backyard; actually got this shot on Oct 10, 2011, but am using it to introduce the "look-a-like puzzle"- Cornell had a great comparison between the Sharp-shinned Hawk and the Cooper's Hawk : http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/learning/trickyIDs/copy_of_sharp-shinned-and-cooper-s-hawks/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=df8775ed02-GBBC_eNewsletter_December_201212_9_2011&utm_medium=email - the Merlin shot is not unlike the other two species that are compared (check the white PJs & eyebrow, dark eye and the wing tips that extend 2/3 of the length of the tail!
-backyard; usual gang, everywhere!
-backyard; usual female on suet and seed pie; "worked" the pear tree in usual fashion. Maybe she's trying to "drum" in her partner, who we very rarely see! Personally, I think he may be seeing another girl! HA! (We know that there are 2 females and have seen them occasionally together, avoiding each other!) :o))
-backyard, but high in the trees and not coming down to feed.
-backyard; everywhere and enjoying the bath.
-backyard; FIRST time that I've seen a chickadee on a thistle feeder; still have not seen them on a slit- hole tubular, although it looks like they may be encouraged to the bucket- style tubular, where the seed can be taken more easily; because of the size of the seeds, this individual stayed on the perch to eat the seed.
-backyard; just one today; I need to get more peanuts tomorrow and see if the rest of the group return; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard; "hanging out" with the Redpolls for part of the time, high in the trees; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard; resident breeding pair; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard; everywhere, including the bath; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard; nice to have a few of these little ones come for a visit, although they still didn't come down to the thistle seed feeders; lots more bird activity today!
-backyard regular pair; oilseed, nut, seed pie and flat feeders.
-backyard regular pair; of the two, the female prefers a little suet with her oilseeds.
-backyard; still pretty skittish! Beginning to feed more like chickadees and nuthatches, where it's more difficult to get a fix on them! Smart, when there is more active predation.
-backyard; oilseed and nut feeders.
heard, not sighted; adjacent property.
-backyard; still very skittish! oilseed and nut feeders.
-backyard; still very skittish! (COLD temps are coming in and may change feeding pattern)
-backyard; on flat, nut and oilseed feeders.
-backyard; on flat and oilseed feeders.
-backyard; usual pair, and I noticed that they will stash, but sometimes will wedge the food item in a nook or cranny in the bark of a tree, then pulverize it with woodpecker- type blows and swallow the smaller pieces on the spot.
-backyard; feeding on oilseeds.
-backyard; I think one of the longest periods where NO BIRDS visited; suspect predators, but couldn't locate them.
-backyard; I think one of the longest periods where NO BIRDS visited; suspect predators, but couldn't locate them.
-backyard; saw one bird become suddenly defensive by "trunk hugging" (keeps the trunk between them and what they perceive as a threat); turns out it was another female Downy! :o)) Neither bird stayed very long.
Common Redpolls
-backyard; well Joyce, it didn't take long for them to show up over here! Luv these little guys! Have a hunch that there is more for tomorrow.
-adjacent property, foraging beneath a grove of spruce trees, presumably dining on spruce seeds; another interesting adaptation about this family, is their ability to suck water while drinking, instead of dipping and then tipping back to swallow!
Merlin
-thought that it was especially quiet!---NO birds, then discovered why! This Merlin was sitting two lots over, waiting for the birds to return, but I suspect that the word had got around; this bird waited for 1 hour and finally left, after no birds returned; (suspect that amount of patience is dependent on when the last meal was).
-backyard; evident lately on most days.
-backyard; last round before late day roosting.
-backyard; evident lately on most days.
-backyard; only saw one.
-backyard feeding & stashing oilseeds and visiting the new suet cake that I put up; local breeding pair; I always wonder if there was a this year's family and if there was, where do they disperse to, as we seem to never see more than two; of course we make the assumption that it's the same pair. :o))
-backyard; regular female on one of the new suet cakes that I put up;
Red-breasted Nuthatch
-backyard; only saw the male today on his favorite oilseed feeder (""Giant Tiger" store, last year)
-backyard; took down an old martin house and put up an older metal one; filled the compartments with "commercial" nesting material & insulated the lower deck only, to see if there was a preference (so far, a dominant male has claimed an upper for a bachelor suite):o))
-backyard; female was back doing the usual rounds on the suet and Wild Bird Seed Pie ( "Superstore") and foraging on the tree trunks and branches.
Black-capped Chickadees
-backyard; these two were doing a fair amount of "fencing" along with their feeding on the nut and oilseed feeders. (suspect a parent & offspring or an individual from another nesting family)
-backyard; see this girl more often than her partner; today she was feeding on the suet cakes.
-backyard; this is the first year that Magpies have been regular visitors to the flat feeder, which is located just outside the dining room window; it seems that they arrive when the jays do and compete for feeding rights; in the past they have ground foraged, hunted mice and only occasionally used the flat feeder.
-backyard; local pair on oilseed feeder ("Giant Tiger" purchase) and on "nutty" suet cake.
-backyard on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; nice to see reserve numbers when nature has taken one for a meal! One of these birds came back to have a private drink from the heated- bath at sunset.
-backyard; WORD HAS GOT AROUND!-----about food availability during this sudden COLD spell; suspect that a good portion of the neighborhood House Finches are visiting! Have never seen so many in our backyard! :o))
-backyard; local pair; seem to like the small screened metal feeder that I picked up at "Giant Tiger" last year. :o))
-backyard; serious feeding on oilseed feeders, one seed at a time, to be eaten away from the feeder.
-checked out the backyard, high in the Green Ash and flew off.
-serious feeding on all feeders; looking for the heated- bath that I hadn't replaced for today.
-backyard; serious feeding on oilseeds.
Merlins
-found this shot which confirms what I expected, that a Blue Jay was the victim; I had noted that there were a lot of gray feathers floating in the wind from the eating perch, and the next day we were short 1 of our regular Blue Jay visitors.
Merlin
-we weren't the only ones having lunch; saw plucked feathers blowing gently in the breeze and found this first year at the "table"; foot of prey had 3 toes forward and 1 toe back; also found a partial male House Finch head under the same tree! Not sure that this body goes with that head; tail seems a little long? (Kinda feel like we are the local packing plant).
-adjacent property; 2 pairs, each heading the same direction; generally east in the early morning and west in the late afternoon.
backyard on flat feeder.
-backyard; local pair, panic feeding on nut, oilseed and flat feeders; also checking out the chickadee or nuthatch nest box. (1 1/4" hole)
-backyard; panic feeding on nut, oilseed and flat feeders.
-backyard; local pair, panic feeding on nut and oilseed feeders.
-backyard; panic feeding on nut and oilseed feeders.
-heading southeasterly with the prevailing wind.
-first sighted was around 8:00 AM, as it passed by the backyard heading east; the second or possibly the same individual, flying westerly over the adjacent school ground at 5:00 PM.
Red-breasted Nuthatches
-backyard; was hoping to see a return of the Brown Creeeper, so that I might get a shot of this little "mouse"; closest I came was this little guy, who was visiting with his partner. (lots of nattering!) :o))
-backyard; on flat feeder.
-flying west on adjacent property.
-backyard; on oilseed,flat and nut feeders.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; on flat and nut feeders.
-while sitting at the kitchen table, my wife spotted this little one heading up a tree trunk; I got a quick look to confirm and then bolted for my camera! Too Late! HA!
-backyard; on flat and nut feeders.
-first time in quite a while, that the local pair visited feeders at the same time; they really seem to avoid each other, but always know exactly where the other is!! During their bee-line comings and goings, their up and down and around the trunk maneuvers, it's a challenge to separate one from the other! (black/ gray crown). HA!
-four today, competing for nuts with a Magpie, on the flat feeder.
Cooper's Hawk
-backyard; this beautiful specimen (about 17 inches) had attempted a ground catch (mouse or House Sparrow), presumably without success, as it re-appeared and stayed in the pear tree for about 10 minutes without prey; the mottling on the back suggests an immature; the pear has hung on to some leaves which are perfect camouflage for a sit and wait bird.
-steady stream of migrating flocks flying over our neighborhood.
-most on oilseed feeder and a few foraging on the ground.
-on the flat feeder.
-feeding on the nut feeder.
-travelled on errands through North Edmonton and found Magpies everywhere; their visibility seems to blossom once many of the American Crows have migrated for warmer temperatures. Magpies are resident year round.
-everywhere and enjoyed the heated- bath. Packed up the pond (and Goldfish) today, because of the very thick ice buildup from the waterfall. I move the frigid outdoor water and Goldfish inside to an aquarium, where the water temperature and fish can gradually move up to room temperature.
Canada Geese
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
Canada Geese
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
Canada Geese
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
Canada Geese
-several waves heading southwesterly over Poplar Lake; lake was frozen over except for small patches near the shore and migration appears to be seriously underway for the geese in our area, in their search for open water.
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food; these guys prefer the half-nuts top the whole nut! (kinda like a plate of mussels on the half shell! :o))
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food; have changed the position of our flat feeder slightly; it's a little lower and it is easier to see the visitors.
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food;our heated bird bath is fired up and the House Sparrows use it regularly to de-grease their feathers to improve their insulative value for the cold nights.
-cold temps have brought them back to where they know that they can get food;
-flock of geese flying southwest; suspect this is a pull-out from Cherry Grove man-made Lake, in anticipation of the sudden drop in temperature we are experiencing.
-backyard; suspect the usual female that I once freed from a tangled string, hanging from nesting material in a bird house; she came to remind me to stock up the suet and woodpecker cake feeders. :o))
-flying and cavorting in a southwesterly direction, south of the adjacent school ground; Kroark, Kroark! :o))
-backyard; my first sighting of these little guys, foraging on the ground and checking out the pond waterfall; all other baths are frozen solid!
-backyard; everywhere! and checking out the pond waterfall; all other baths are frozen solid! Guess that I'll have to crank up our heated bath!
-backyard; these guys certainly kick up a fuss, when I'm behind in laying out some extra peanuts on the flat feeder!
-backyard; these guys have been absent for a couple of weeks, but come back to the feeders when the cold weather begins to settle in; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; these guys have been absent for a couple of weeks, but come back to the feeders when the cold weather begins to settle in; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; everywhere,
-regular group of birds patrolling the adjacent school ground; have actually noticed more of these birds this year than last.
-regular group of birds patrolling the adjacent school ground.
-backyard; everywhere, enjoying baths and cool drinks from the pond waterfall; having moving water in the backyard has really made a difference in the number of visitors that we get through the year. Keeping an eye open for Rosy-Finches that were sighted by a lady, about 60k from Edmonton, in a parking lot at Elk Island Park: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/ALBR.html
-backyard; the "3 Amigos" grabbing peanuts from the flat feeder, but always keeping one eye on the sky!
-foraging in the neighbor's spruce trees, with lots of nattering! :o))
-getting down to the species that stay through the Winter, with the night time temps now dipping below 0C; feeding on flat and nut feeders.
-getting down to the species that stay through the Winter, with the night time temps now dipping below 0C; on oilseed and flat feeders.
-getting down to the species that stay through the Winter, with the night time temps now dipping below 0C; ground foraging and on all feeders.
Ring-billed Gulls
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; this individual in first winter plumage. (note dark eye and black tipped pink bill)
Greater Yellowlegs
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; this shot of a juvenile (brownish back).
Canada Geese
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; this individual led a flock of about 30 individuals over to the shore, about10 feet from me; sitting down and waiting for the birds to come to you, often buys a pretty good shot.
Hooded Merganser
-Cherry grove man-made lake; just one guy, but you really notice him!
Canada Geese
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; the sun was low in the sky and the subjects were painted against Fall colors.
Canada Geese
-Cherry Grove man-made lake; the sun was low in the sky and the subjects were painted against Fall colors.
Mallards
-Riel Recreation Park, St Albert; this shot of a female.
Blue-winged Teals
-Riel Recreation Park, St Albert; this shot of a female.
American Wigeons
-Riel Recreation Park, St Albert; lots of ducks, geese and Tundra Swans; this shot of two males in Fall plumage.
Greater Yellowlegs
-Riel Recreation Park, St Albert; lots of ducks, geese and Tundra Swans.
-adjacent to Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park; alive with ducks geese and Tundra Swans; this shot of typical Fall Male plumage.
Merlin
-backyard;
Merlins
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
Merlins
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
Merlin
-backyard; House Sparrows were in great abundance, everywhere when along came the Merlin, who promply grabbed a Thanksgiving dinner and landed high in our tall Green Ash tree, to enjoy the meal!
American Coots
-Riel Recreation Park, St. Albert; lots of duckd, geese and Tundra Swans.
-remember this fellow from last year at around this time; goes by the name of "Mousetracker"; HA! Was looking in the usual places for scurrying mice and if he should see one, he becomes a skilled predator! :o))
Black-capped Chickadees
-baqckyard; some birds are in panic feeding mode during this wet and cool weather period.
Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored)s
-backyard; ground foraging with other sparrows; this shot of a female.
-backyard; on oilseed feeders.
-backyard; everywhere including the pond waterfall and bird baths.
White-throated Sparrow
-backyard; ground foraging; this individual has a particularly noticeable chest spot, which is not common.
Dark-eyed Junco (slate-colored)s
-backyard; ground foraging with other sparrows; this shot of a male.
Sandhill Cranes
-GOT 'EM! HA! Heard them, ("Kroark, Kroark") and bolted into the house to get my camera at MEGA speed, for an old guy! Almost missed them, for they had covered a lot of distance and were quite far away, as they flew beneath the clouds!
-backyard; these guys are very "pushy" and demand 1/2 peanuts! HA!
-adjacent Park; this pair was in "play" mode and making a few of the ring-bills, crows and blue jays DUCK! HA!
Turkey Vultures
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project; thin white ruff high on neck indicates a youngster.
Turkey Vultures
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project;
Turkey Vultures
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project;
Turkey Vultures
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project;
Buffleheads
-JB and I were away on our Turkey Vulture Project for 2 1/2 days; "also rans" (Centre of Attention)
Canada Geese
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project; "also rans".
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)s
-JB and I spent 2 1/2 days at Moose Lake on our Turkey Vulture Project; an "also ran".
Downy Woodpeckers
-front yard; heard this noisy little carpenter; amazing how much zing they can put into pecking with that little chisel! Do you see a "Downy accipiter"? A birder's imagination builds birds! HA!
Downy Woodpecker
-front yard; heard this noisy little carpenter; amazing how much zing they can put into pecking with that little chisel!
-heard this bird before I saw it, flying low to the tree bases, from spruce to spruce. (No binocs)
-this individual scolded me until I topped up the shelled 1/2 nut selection! There were lots of whole shelled nuts, (with skin) available! HA!
Horned Grebe
- sat down and waited with "patience", but couldn't convince this guy to come closer; I'd get him in my scope, put it down,grab the camera and he was under the water! @3!!7*** HA! The white cheek suggested the Horned , rather than the Eared; pre-winter plumage.
Lesser Scaups
-noted the slight peak on the back of the crown.
-heard, but didn't see these ones.
-heard, but didn't see this one.
-active group enjoying the evening stillness.