These days, the mixed nut feeder is getting a steady stream of customers: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Gray Catbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. I haven’t been able to figure out if more than one Ruby-crowned Kinglet visits the yard; I’ve never seen or heard two at once. But the other day, during a downpour, I had spectacular views of its ruby crown, which in the rain seemed to glow like a jewel.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
This Hermit Thrush showed up for a mid-afternoon (1:45 p.m.) bath:
Hermit Thrush
And the American Goldfinches are back. Here’s one that’s not at a feeder or taking a drink from the bubbler:
American Goldfinch
The Hermit Thrush that’s wintering in our back yard usually appears only at the close of day.
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
This afternoon several birds were hitting the mixed-nut feeder: a tenacious Yellow-rumped Warbler, a Ruby Crowned Kinglet, a Gray Catbird, and a Northern Cardinal.
This Hermit Thrush never lands on the feeders, preferring instead to cautiously approach the bubbler for a bath:
Hermit Thrush
At Westminster Woods today, this Anhinga was enjoying the sun:
Anhinga
Anhinga
Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere at Westminster Woods, as they were at Nathan Krestul Park:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
And here’s the best I could do with the elusive Belted Kingfisher:
Belted Kingfisher
The American Goldfinches have re-discovered our back yard. They mob the feeder in the pergola and the feeder outside the kitchen window. The squirrels have also figured out how to jump on the feeder outside the kitchen window, so I’ve got to think on that. This morning as I was watching a Gray Catbird hit the mixed-nut feeder repeatedly, I saw what I thought was a Red-bellied Woodpecker (or two) in the woods behind my house. I took a few shots and was startled to see a red throat. It turns out they were two male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. I went back outside and staked out the “sapsucker” tree (see entries dated March 15 and 17, 2015) drilled with neat lines of holes by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker from a couple of years ago, but no luck.
This afternoon at Westminster Woods three Hooded Mergansers ventured close to the shore near Gram’s residence.
Hooded Mergansers
Early Valentine’s Day Picture: Pair of Hooded Mergansers
At Westminster Woods today, Gram and I saw lots of birds: two Anhingas, several Hooded Mergansers, a couple of Wood Ducks, three Wood Storks, a Great Egret, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a Great Blue Heron.
Four Hooded Mergansers (three male and one female)
Great Blue Heron
Wood Stork
And here’s the moon, seen from Nathan Krestul Park this afternoon:
