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.

pileated woodpeckers

A pair of pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) live in our wild woods. They are very secretive so we have not located their nest or roost hole. Over the last few weeks we've seen them at the suet blocks every few days. Nearly 18 inches long, the male is big enough to tilt the "barn" feeder as he hangs on it. This afternoon, as the wind chills dipped, the female hung on a big tree and fluffed up her feathers to stay warm.

elated chickadee

We put up a new "tray" feeder on a pole near the "barn" seed dispenser and suet cages.

The chickadees seem to love the new offerings!

Flicker

We've seen a single Northern Flicker several times recently at the suet block and scavenging along tree bark in our wild woods.

fluffy warm

As the temperatures drop, the birds fluff up their feathers to increase insulating qualities.

winter guild

This year, the guild of birds wintering together in the wild woods includes this chickadee and the two northern cardinals behind it, all waiting in the brambles for their turn at the seed feeder.

frosty

Heavy frost on the grass this morning . . . this gray squirrel sat on a snag tree in the sun with toes around the branch, eyes not fully open, tail up wrapped along his back extending to his ears. Cozy.

burning bush

One of the brightest autumn jewels on the edge of the wild woods -- "burning bush" Euonymus alatus.

the battle for black chokeberries

A group of Eastern Bluebirds Sialia Sialis, darted in and out of the Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa bushes. Surmising these bluebirds might be the two broods that fledged out of our nestbox this summer plus the adults, we smiled and watched as they flew around at the edge of the woods. Then, as the bluebirds moved off towards the cattails, a flock of Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum appeared and settled in to savor the black leathery chokeberries. Their grey and buff coloring might help them go unnoticed, but their yellow tail-tips were bright accents among the burnished chokeberry leaves.

the winter "guild"

The birds are gathering into their winter "guild". Several of the woodpeckers are back again -- the Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens, the Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus, Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus, and the big Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus. This Red-bellied Woodpecker helped himself to sunflower and safflower seeds.

autumn at the edge of the woods

blue jays

The group of blue jays we've seen this summer have joined the guild as winter approaches. The chickadees are so vocal while they enjoy the peanuts; now the jays know about these special treats, too. As soon as I put the nuts out, the reconnaissance flyovers begin . . .

autumn woods

The woods and gardens are gorgeous! After several very cold nights, the leaves are changing to their autumn splendor. The black chokeberry bushes add a warm accent at the edge of the woods.

peanuts

Peanuts (unsalted, in the shell) are a nice treat for many of the birds that gather into the winter guild here in the wild woods. The chickadees, ever curious, help themselves first whenever we put more peanuts out on the bark tray.

early snow

October, and we've had 3 snowfalls already. It melted quickly since the ground and foliage are still warm, but a rude awakening for the birds who have yet to migrate southward.