25-JUN-2010
Red-shafted Northern Flicker #5277
Generally it is too hot now for us to be seeing Northern Flickers such as this Red-shafted one. He flew by, sat on the fence under the pear tree for a few seconds, with his mouth open most of the time (their mechanism for keeping cool). They are generally more common up higher in the mountains, where the temperatures are about ten degrees cooler than here.
24-JUN-2010
House Finch #5209
Our House Finches are our only regular visitors in recent days -- other birds come and go, but there are always between one and four House Finches feeding or drinking. There's more feeding than drinking -- They will leave the feeder for a few seconds, take a short drink, and either fly off or go back to the feeder.
23-JUN-2010
House Finches
Male feeding a Juvenile #5162
The season's baby birds are showing up more frequently. The juveniles sit in the bushes while their parents get seed from the feeders and bring it over to them. Some of the smarter juveniles are already figuring out the feeders, but they are still happy to beg from their parents.
22-JUN-2010
House Sparrow in the bushes #5078
We are seeing lots of juveniles -- many House Sparrows, some American Robins, House Finches, and Canyon Towhees. Even though there are lots of birds around, it's officially summer now and all the plants have filled out with leaves to the extent that I rarely can get pictures of them (or even see them) when they hide deep in the bushes. The noisiest of the lot are the House Sparrows, and occasionally we'll see Mom out feeding seed to three or four little ones (all of whom are chattering endlessly).
21-JUN-2010
Pine Siskin #5011
We have had only a small variety of birds visiting us recently, including a few Pine Siskins such as this one getting at drink at the waterfall. The weather has been very hot and dry and occasionally windy -- we are hoping to get summer monsoon rains in the next few weeks. The birds are most active early in the morning and to a lesser extent, active in the late afternoon.
20-JUN-2010
Lesser Goldfinch #4978
After going away (probably nesting) for a few weeks, the Lesser Goldfinches are turning up more frequently. This is a Western Green-backed form, with a nice presentation of his wing feathers. We also occasionally see one whose back is almost completely black -- more like the Eastern variant of the Lessers.
19-JUN-2010
Canyon Towhee juvenile
playing with some algae #4858
Our Canyon Towhees are raising young now. The juveniles look very much like a female House Finch, except they are about twice as large. Like the House Finch, they have streaked feathers on the breast, and do not show the characteristic dark spot on the front center of the breast like the adult Towhees have. Normally seed and insect eaters, this bird obviously is trying to figure out if some algae from the pond makes a good meal. He spent a couple of minutes tugging on a piece and finally got this tuft out to play with (and maybe eat some). He also later tried out some flower blossoms, and a little caterpillar.
18-JUN-2010
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Female) #4646
At this time of year, we have two hummingbird species that are relatively common -- Black-chinned Hummingbirds and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. The females are much harder to distinguish than the males are, since both are basically green on their backs and white on their bellies. The Black-chinned are smaller, and the Broad-tailed have some brownish feathers between the white on their bellies and the green on their backs. The Broad-tailed Hummingbirds also make a whistling noise when they fly (especially the males). So, I am only about 90% sure this is a Black-chinned female, but after a few weeks of seeing very few hummingbirds at all, I now regularly see females chasing and catching insects in the early morning light. This one took a pause to get a sip of nectar from the feeder.
17-JUN-2010
Brewer's Blackbird #4519
Although they superficially resemble Common Grackles, Brewer's Blackbirds are smaller, have more pointed beaks, and are much more interested in patrolling the lawn looking for bugs, while the Grackles are more interested in drinking and eating seed. Like other blackbirds, they have a lot of attitude. But, the Grackles have effectively chased them out of our back yard where they have nested the last several years. They are very protective of their nests when they are raising young.
16-JUN-2010
Common Grackle #4449
Unfortunately for the smaller birds, the Grackles have learned how to get seeds from the feeder. It's not easy, because they barely fit on the small perches, often falling off to one side, and flapping their wings to keep their balance, like this fellow is doing. Actually, they don't eat that much -- the House Finches they scare off are messier eaters -- but they do displace the other birds who have to fly off to some nearby tree and wait for the Grackles to have their fill. That's partly why I don't mind them too much, because I much prefer to take pictures of those birds while they are away from the feeder.
15-JUN-2010
White-winged Dove #4383
We have seen more White-winged Doves in the last few weeks than before. Fewer Eurasian Collared-Doves have been around harassing the White-winged Doves, so that's what is probably happening. I still hear the Eurasian Collared-Doves cooing, but they seem less territorial.
14-JUN-2010
Lesser Goldfinch #4295
Right now, the most "interesting" birds around are the Lesser Goldfinches. They are very quiet birds, appearing without any fanfare at the feeders. This female is finishing up a bath at the waterfall.