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On the brighter side some birds are back!

On the brighter side some birds are back!

Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

On the brighter side some birds are back!
3/24/2020 at 3:35 PM

Seeing geese flying north is always a good sign. Neighbour said he saw a Robin but I haven’t. Anyone else?
JoBeth

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1310

JoBeth
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1310

YES
3/24/2020 at 3:53 PM

Heard the birds singing as I was cleaning my windows on Saturday. What a lovely sign.
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

yes
3/24/2020 at 4:08 PM

We've had purple finches, downey woodpeckers, the odd junco, nuthatches (they sometimes stay around but haven't see any this winter) and chipping sparrows, alongside the usual regulars (chickadees & common sparrows mostly). No robins yet. Stupid crows are back. Haven't seen the merlins that have nested nearby yet either. Heard geese, but not seen them.

Squirrels are also doing their thing. Pretty funny to watch them chase each other.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

hmm
3/24/2020 at 5:04 PM

Saw a few geese.
Saw a Snowy Owl yesterday, they should be going up north soon.
The Starlings that nest in the front porch are back.
Haven't seen any robins or juncos yet, but for sure some chipping sparrows.
nicemoustache
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167

nicemoustache
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 167

Nothing
3/24/2020 at 5:25 PM

New at the feeder yet... but crows, horned larks and a few geese are back for sure. And the ravens are laying eggs already. Talk about getting a head start!
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Also
3/24/2020 at 5:30 PM

Not quite a bird, but dog was happy to spot his first one of these guys this afternoon..
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

OK
3/24/2020 at 5:57 PM

I'll 'bite'. What is it ?
Maybe you need a cat.
But at least it's not a mosquito.
mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

Birds
3/24/2020 at 7:33 PM

Last week I saw my first robin of the season. Yesterday I saw a small flock of five Canada geese. This morning there was a junco at the feeder and this afternoon I saw a flock of 24 Canada geese. This afternoon I also saw a bald eagle, I haven't seen one of those for about six weeks.
The regulars - chickadees, blue jays, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, and white breasted nuthatches are still daily visitors at the feeders.
For the past week or two I have had some type of sparrow (I think) at the feeders. They are similar to a sparrow in shape and size, but are golden and light brown colored both on their backs and bellies. If anyone knows what type of sparrow/bird this is, please share. I have researched sparrows and don't see anything quite like it. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get a good picture of them.
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

chipping sparrow
3/24/2020 at 7:44 PM

Sounds like maybe a chipping sparrow.
mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

type of sparrow
3/24/2020 at 9:43 PM

The four birds that have been visiting have that golden tan colouring everywhere, back and belly, with highlights of a milk chocolate brown color on the back. There was no cap to speak of, just the golden brown. I didn't notice an eye bar/stripe.
They are lovely little birds, especially in the sunlight.
Farmergeorge
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1837

Farmergeorge
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1837

White breasted nuthatches
3/24/2020 at 10:00 PM

And a long eared owl here.
Flutterby

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1554

Flutterby
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1554

3/25/2020 at 12:40 PM

Farmergeorge said "And a long eared owl here. "
We have seen bald eagles throughout the winter close to Virden along the Assiniboine River and just out of the valley.

What we have seen lately: a wooly bear caterpillar, a gopher, geese and the magpies are certainly nesting.

The onion chives are starting to grow.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

hmmm
3/25/2020 at 1:53 PM

Saw a robin today!
DuWayne

Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 68

DuWayne
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 68

nesting
3/26/2020 at 11:09 AM

I have 2 pairs of sparrows loading a couple of my birdhouses with nesting material.
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

Seriously
3/26/2020 at 4:30 PM

Seriously Adam , what is that little black speck of fluff?

I hear robins early several mornings but haven't actually seen one.

(When I was young{er} it was a common April's Fools joke- on April 1- to tell mom or dad that you saw a robin. The point is that back then seeing a robin on April 1 would have been very remarkable. Today, not so much. Climate changes, and so do the habits of migratory birds - for whatever reason.)

I see geese, silly things, flying East, West and North.

My stupid tulips, the ones against the south side of the house, are about 5 inches tall and trying really really hard to be tulip. They've done it before, they'll do it again, even in this new world.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

fly!
3/26/2020 at 4:46 PM

It's a fly that Adam's dog is hunting!
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

chasing fluffs and bugs
3/26/2020 at 5:49 PM

Adam needs a cat.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Pup
3/26/2020 at 7:31 PM

plane watcher said "Adam needs a cat. "
Heheh actually pup has taken it upon himself to be a sort of guard of our fruit tree crop over the last few years. Not much to protect right now but we’ve had to be extra careful chatting about this thread in our house... just a passing mention of the word “bird” in conversation causes quite the stir around here! Just like us I think he's looking forward to having a few more actual, shall we say, "oiseau" around to keep him on his toes :)
thx for starting this thread OP... it's a fun read and a reminder that better days are on the way!
mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

mycomment
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 37

Another bird
3/28/2020 at 11:09 AM

Just minutes ago. . . a goldfinch!
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Spring
3/28/2020 at 2:02 PM

Looks like these guys have woken up too...
Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

How to get Baltimore Orioles to my yard?
3/28/2020 at 2:17 PM

Have been trying for years to get these beautiful birds to my yard but to no avail. I’ve tried the orange slices on the tops of my fence only to find that the ants get to it first. I live right next to a park in the Riverheights area which has all kinds of trees so you think it wouldn’t be a problem but it’s mostly sparrows and crows. I know they show up early according to some people but not here. Any ideas?
Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

Abbysmum
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5038

orioles
3/28/2020 at 3:42 PM

I live in Riverheights too and this is our 10th summer in this house. I've seen precisely 1 oriole in that time.

We gets lots of everything else, but that one and hummingbirds are very rare around here. I've only had hummingbirds twice.
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Bird
3/28/2020 at 3:57 PM

Bit of an amateur here... anyone want to help me with what i'm looking at? Didn't want to land in a tree quite close enough for a crisp shot but these should give the idea. Google says maybe House Finch over purple finch?
https://www.sdakotabirds.com/diffids/house_purple.htm

Edited by Adam, 2020-03-28 15:58:59
vegimite
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 686

vegimite
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 686

Adams bird
3/28/2020 at 4:26 PM

Could possibly be a male Pine Grosbeak, but difficult to tell.
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

House finch/Purple finch
3/28/2020 at 4:29 PM

Both pics of the same bird? If so, it shows how different a bird can look under various lighting conditions.

What camera and lens?

My guess is House Finch but I reserve the right to be corrected by anyone claiming to know better. House and Purple often stump me. And I think that they might hybridize. They certainly travel together.

Interestingly, the Purple Finch is native to these parts - while the House Finch is native to California and other points south-west. In mid 20th century a number of Houses were released for some reason in New York. They've been spreading back westward ever since. My older Peterson's shows their range to be along the North American West coast and the Northern East coast. My newer references show their range to be right across all North America.

And that just shows how dynamic populations of anything can be.

Edited by plane watcher, 2020-03-28 16:35:03
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Bird
3/28/2020 at 4:36 PM

Can't say for 100% sure but should be same bird. One shot facing the sun, the other with side of body shaded that I had to bring down the shadows on so lighting is very different.

Shooting with full frame Nikon and 150-600 lens but needed it on a tree a little closer than it was for a keeper quality shot!
Farmergeorge
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1837

Farmergeorge
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 1837

I
3/28/2020 at 5:38 PM

Adam said "
Bit of an amateur here... anyone want to help me with what i'm looking at? Didn't want to land in a tree quite close enough for a crisp shot but these should give the idea. Google says maybe House Finch over purple finch?
https://www.sdakotabirds.com/diffids/house_purple.htm

Edited by Adam, 2020-03-28 15:58:59
"
Am fairly sure that is a purple finch.
plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

plane watcher
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 209

House finch
3/28/2020 at 6:11 PM

I still think house finch. If I see streaky on the flanks or breast I think House. I still reserve the right to be shown wrong.

Get out there Adam and get some better pictures :-)
Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Home Slice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1360

Orioles and grape jelly?
3/28/2020 at 6:47 PM

In response to small town boy . Do you put the grape jelly in a hummingbird style feeder? I’ve heard horse hair in the trees also works as they like to build their nests with it. Only problem is I don’t have horses and I don’t know anyone that does. Lol.
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2980

orioles
3/28/2020 at 6:58 PM

You need to have really really tall trees, like 25 year old poplars to have orioles in your yard.

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