I didn’t have any new bird shots to share last week, so I went out and found a few to share with you today.
The Northern Mockingbird was flitting around, making a lot of noise. No flattering shot for it, I’m afraid!
American Crow
Great Blue Heron
These were all found at the local botanical garden.
Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday and Water World Wednesday
Downy Woodpecker–just peeking in on you
Northern Mockingbird
No sooner than hubby asked if the mockingbird had been around in the cold weather, the very next day it showed up!
Here’s a view of the backyard featuring our second snowfall, eight inches or so.
It didn’t look pristine for long, hubby shoveled paths to the feeders. Wednesday may have been the first time ever he couldn’t get to work. I wish he’d been able to enjoy his day off, but it was spent clearing snow, and fretting about orders that needed to be placed. This morning, he had to dig through the barricade of snow the plow left before he could get the car out of the driveway.
Have you ever wondered what the belly of a Yellow-rumped Warbler looks like?
Now you know!
Too soon, our day came to an end.
May you be warm, wherever you are today.
I’ve been away since late last week. I regained my hour of lost sleep from last spring’s change to Daylight Savings Time. I looked at my kitchen calendar this evening and realized I’d fallen back a whole month–it still showed October. Who wouldn’t like to have an extra month this time of year?
Thought I’d share some photos today. Hovering over a photo will bring up the caption, clicking on a photo will start a slide show.
Have a great week!
Things were ’bout to become interesting.
On the left we have the Northern Mockingbird, and the European Starling on the right.
The mockingbird is first to enter the arena, and issues a dare to the starling.
The starling calls for back up, and its tag-team partner arrives for the cage match.
The opponents size up the competition.
The mockingbird slanders the starling’s mother…
…then takes his leave.
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comments during the interruption of our regularly-scheduled program. I’ve missed keeping up with your posts; it’s good to be home. I found a few new things around the backyard upon my return, and will be sharing them with you over the next few days.
We observed this Northern Mockingbird having lunch with us at Schlotzsky’s Deli.
I’m at our daughter’s again this week, driving her homeschooled students to their SOL testing site. And getting my daily Bailey!
I’ve learned that armadillo’s eyes are very sensitive to light. Andy should love it here, we have seen mostly rainy days since his arrival. For more of Andy’s journeys and to meet his “mom,” please visit: http://lenorediane.com/
and click on “Adventures of Andy.”
He’s a curious critter, wanted to know what was all the fuss about birds. I prepared a vantage point for him, and now he’s a regular bird watcher, too.
Watching for birds
The brown thrasher came by for a visit.
Andy thinks he and the brown thrasher would make a good insect-and-worm-hunting team.
Then he asked where all the noise was coming from. I directed his attention to the roof peak–the northern mockingbird was sharing his song repertoire.
Andy rode along on a trip to the library. I inadvertently mentioned “bookworms.” He was disappointed to find the library a place filled with books, rather than worms. I think he was getting hungry!
I don’t have to hire a sentry to keep the birdseed safe from pesky marauders, that’s for sure. In fact, the desirable birds have to wait their turn, thanks to a tiny little bird with a big attitude. Yellow-rumped warblers measure 5-6″ (12-15 cm) from bill tip to tail tip. That’s not a lot of bird when it comes to body size.
Partners in Crime
Thursday, from my dish-washing station at the kitchen window, I observed this wee fellow moving from feeder to feeder, sampling the offerings.
Then along came a Carolina wren.
What attitude?
It is similar in body size (and attitude) to the warbler, but it has a longer beak, and it’s bigger around the middle. They got into a cage match (inside the green wire area that keeps pigeons out) and the warbler tucked his tail and retreated to his corner in a nearby shrub, obviously plotting his next encounter.
Friday, once again the warbler was holding court at the feeders, when what to his discerning eye would appear? A Carolina wren. The warbler’s manager must have coached him after the last bout, because he took the battle to the wren’s favorite suet dish and played Keep-Away. This time the wren left. Our hero puffed up his prideful chest and dared anyone to come near.
I am King, and all this belongs to me!
He chased the other warblers, finches, and the chickadees…but then, the mockingbird appeared. Twice the size (at least) of the little warbler, he dared to dip his beak into the royal birdbath. The warbler squinted his tiny eyes, sized up the competition, then flitted to the top of the feeder pole and staked his claim.
The mockingbird left when he was good and ready, on his own terms. 
