sharp shinned hawk on the brush pile

The usual birds at the edge of the woods were suddenly scarce when this hawk swooped in to survey his hunting possibilities.

 

 

pumpkin lunch

The leftover pumpkins, split in halves, make a good lunch for the cardinals and bluejays. They seem able to share for a change.

winter guild is forming

The birds that stay in our woods through the cold winter months form a "guild" -- many birds of several species that share shelter and food for every one's sake. This female Cardinal, hovering in the woodland fringe at dusk, seemed to be enjoying another warm day in this unusual November.

dogwood

This fall has been warmer than normal; sunny and mid-50's most days even into November. The Cardinal Dogwood shrubs have mostly turned to their autumn colors and set berries. But a few branches on the sheltered side have sprouted new buds and blossoms. I've heard some lilacs are also trying to bloom, thinking it is Springtime.

maple spendor

The maples are at peak color this week. Weather has been dry, mild, a bit warmer than normal since mid-September.

young birds, new feathers

The cardinals have been bringing their young to the feeders, teaching them to find and crack open the sunflower seeds. The little male gaped and begged at the feeder tray and the little female caught on quickly, happily skipping through the fading hosta leaves for seeds from the feeder above.

juvenile cardinals

We've been seeing Northern Cardinals every day -- both young and adult birds -- at the seed trays. This little male gaped for food when I thought he would have been hunting on his own, but with such mild weather at both ends of summer 2010 theCardinals may have had an extra brood this season.

 

hummingbird

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris enjoys the nectar of red Lobelias

nesting success in the wild woods

Nestwatching has kept us busy, even more so once the hatchlings left the nests. Eastern Bluebirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Cardinals, Chickadees, House Wrens, Robins, Tree Swallows, Goldfinches, and House Finches -- all brought young birds to our various feeder stations this summer.

Bluebird hatchlings, day 5

In the open space near the wild woods, a pair of Eastern Bluebirds settled in one of the nestboxes. They produced five eggs; four hatched on May 26. We have not seen the male adult since a few days before then. The female is doing her best to feed all four hatchlings with worms, moths, and dragonflies. We try to help by putting out mealworms.

nesting downy woodpeckers

The "woodpecker" tree, on the south edge of the wild woods, is home to a pair of downy woodpeckers and their young. No clue yet to the number of hatchlings inside, but both adults are busy each day carrying worms and bugs to them. These may be the same downies we saw all winter as we surveyed for FeederWatch http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw

along the woodland path

 

Jack in the Pulpit

A quiet meander through the wild woods will bring you to the area where Jack-in-the-Pulpit blooms silently in the dappled light.

nestbox in transition

The 7 Chickadee eggs hatched on time, 5/5. The adult female tried her best to feed them all. Although the very warm Spring must have encouraged her to start early, a week of cold nights and the mysterious absence of the adult male left her on her own. She hunted and fed her hatchlings; we helped with mealworms from the pet store. But none of the chicks survived.  Now, a pair of House Wrens admire the empty nestbox.

After they put in a few twigs, the Chickadee came back for one last peek.

burning bush blooms

The "Burning Bush" Euonymus alatus is in bloom. In summer, when all green, its easy to forget how spectacular this shrub is -- pinky red leaves in autumn, then lovely tiny flower clusters in spring.

future chickadees

The front nest box is occupied by Chickadees. The female began laying eggs April 17, hiding them under the fluff lining her grass nest cup. On April 24, she arranged 7 eggs atop the fluff and began incubating them.

nestboxes ready

We are ready for the bird nesting season, with cameras giving us the possibility for a close view in 7 nestsites. This is a PVC tube converted into a "snag box" that offers the kind of cavity preferred by several species, including Black-capped Chickadees. Once the tree leafs out, the tube will be an inviting secluded spot for a nesting pair.

We'll participate again this summer in NestWatch http://www.nestwatch.org/ , helping to observe and document the impact of environmental change on bird populations.

peanut log

A gift! This log, with carefully drilled holes to hold nuts and positioned at the edge of our woods, is a new treat for the birds.

woodpecker tree

Even though this tree lost branches in the past, its remains still stand as an attraction for the four varieties of Woodpeckers that live in our woods.

dogwood

The Cardinal Dogwoods have been a vibrant show all winter against the white snow. With warmer weather the bark will turn golden and green leaves will appear.

sprouts for lunch

The elm trees are acknowledging Springtime with burgeoning leaf buds. The finches regard the buds as delectable sprouts. No need to nibble on stale boxelder seeds when such fresh fare becomes plentiful.

Boxelder breakfast

The grey squirrels nibble on the seed pods hanging in the Boxelder tree. When he leans out to where the branch is too thin to support his weight, the squirrel becomes a gymnast to reach breakfast.

Woodpeckers on suet

As the days get longer, some of the birds that were gregarious cooperative participants in the local "guild" of birds all winter are showing up at the feeders in pairs. Unlike in the very cold weather when they had to help each other find food and keep warm, now they are beginning to define territories.
The Downy woodpecker pair (above) and the larger Hairy woodpecker (below) will probably select their nest sites in the next three or four weeks. Meanwhile, they appreciate the suet feeders.

bird tracks: snow angel

Near sunset.


We admired the bird tracks
in the snow zig-zagging
beneath the feeder.


I wonder what maneuver
made the wings on this
snow angel?

winter moon in sunlight

Cold clear blue January sky glowing behind crisp branches
making a frame for winter moon.