Tag: birding

In the fir: American Goldfinch

On By Mike and Christy3 Comments

This summer a family of American Goldfinches has made their home in the fir trees nearby. Many a day have been brightened by their singing and the flight call as they move from treetop to treetop. A few weeks back we watched this male Goldfinch searching the ends of the branches in a tree with abundant fresh growth.

The trees were teaming with small caterpillars and this guy looks to have found a nice meal that afternoon.

Meal devoured and a victory pose well struck.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Foraging

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

A male Yellow-rumped Warbler bringing home a mouthful to feed the family. It’s hard to believe that while this photo was only taken just a few weeks ago the Yellow-rumped Warblers have already left our forests for the season. August is always a strange month and now that most of the migratory birds have left just seems stranger.

Before you leave: the boys

On By Mike and Christy4 Comments

Well another week has come and gone and while a few Calliope Hummingbirds are hanging around the neighborhood the number have decreased significantly this past week. By all accounts we have only observed two this week. Therefore another tribute to this mighty little hummingbird is in order. While last week we featured the females this week we feature a handful of the many photos of the boys we collected over the summer.

We sure will miss that little flash of brilliant color.

Until next year we bid you adieu.

We sit you a wonderful weekend.

A ray of sunshine

On By Mike and Christy3 Comments

It’s a been a summer filled with smoky skies and when the sun was out it seemed dulled and lacking that cheery-summery feeling. However, even when skies were hazy and the sunlight dimmed, there were always male Western Tanagers to illuminate the haze filled skies .

With a brood to feed this male was busy collecting mouthfuls of flying ants to bring to the nest. We watched him make several trips to an ant nest a black bear had recently exposed behind a pile of rocks.

Like an atomic fireball they filled the summer skies with an yellower-yellow and orange-orange. Even when we could only hear their “Chib-it” sounds from the treetops above we knew the sun was in the sky.

And when the ants had retreated into their nest wasp was on the menu.

We are not sure how much longer you will be around but based upon previous years it will only be a week or two but one thing is certain. You have provided us with a ray of bright crisp sunshine this summer and we can’t thank you enough.

Before you leave

On By Mike and Christy1 Comment

It’s hard to fathom but the time for one of our closest summer friends to depart for their annual journey south is very near. Typically by mid-August the small in size yet large in personality Calliope Hummingbirds begin their fall migration. This summer we have been blessed to have a handful of Calliopes living in the forest nearby and have enjoyed seeing them buzzing about the forest and also visiting the feeders in our yard.

Today we feature a few photographs of the females. Quiet and strong in every way.

The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the United States. It weighs about one-third as much as the smallest North American warblers and about the same as a ping pong ball.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Calliope_Hummingbird/overview

This tiny hummingbird is the smallest long-distance migrant in the world. Calliope Hummingbirds travel around 5,000 miles each year in a big oval from the breeding to wintering grounds. They migrate north along the Pacific Coast in the spring, but return to the wintering grounds in Mexico via an inland route along the Rocky Mountains.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Calliope_Hummingbird/overview

We bid you adieu and look forward to seeing you soon. Perhaps we could visit you this winter?

Wising you a wonderful weekend.

12 toes

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments
On a recent hike that took us through a long stretch of a recently burnt forest we heard the sound of a woodpecker pecking away in search of a meal. When we finally got close enough we were surprised and rewarded with a male American Three-toed Woodpecker drilling away.

The American Three-toed Woodpecker’s small stature is deceptive. One study of its musculature and skeleton revealed that this woodpecker can deliver especially powerful blows. It’s been suggested this is due to the evolutionary loss of the fourth toe—an unusual trait shared only by the Eurasian Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. With only three toes, these species may be able to lean farther away from the tree and thereby hit the tree harder than other woodpeckers, all of which have four toes.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Three-toed_Woodpecker/overview

While we were watching this guy drill away it became clear that there must be another individual out of sight on the other side of the tree given as we heard drumming even when this male was holding still and within a few minutes a female emerged from the hidden side of the tree.

American Three-toed Woodpeckers are much more numerous in disturbed forests than in mature green forest, so look for them in bark beetle outbreaks, recently burned areas (up through about 8 years after a wildfire), and other places with dead and dying trees. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Three-toed_Woodpecker/overview

There was only a short moment when both the female and male were visible in the viewfinder together but they do make a mine pair and 4 legs with three toes each well…that’s twelve toes.

Chipping Sparrow: Spizella passerina

On By Mike and Christy2 Comments

It wouldn’t seem like summer without the sounds of the Chipping Sparrows echoing through the trees in our area. A beautiful little sparrow with their rufous crown. We see the Chipping Sparrow foraging on branches, jumping around on the ground and hopping about in the both pine and deciduous tress each summer.

More often than not a hike through the forest in July is accompanied by their song echoing through the woods. A song we thoroughly enjoy.

So here’s to the Chipping Sparrow a widespread, modest and wonderful summer companion.