hummingbirds sitting still

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been enjoying the red trumpet flowers on the lonicera vine all summer.  Finally, we saw them sitting still!

 

green heron preening

The logs are favorite perches for all the creatures in or near the pond - - turtles, ducks, herons, frogs, song birds. The Green Heron Butorides virescens finds it a choice place to preen his feathers while staying close to his hunting area, in case a meal appears nearby.

young blackbird showing epaulets

This young male Red-winged Blackbird was begging his mom to give him food from the seed feeder. I can tell he is a male because he's already starting to get his bright colored 'epaulets' on his shoulders.  She has been putting food in his mouth whenever he gapes since he hatched out of his egg.  But now that she is hoping he will find his own food!

On 5/20/2022 we peeked into the nest box, and found several eggs. Not countable, because of the feathers in the box meant to hide the eggs from predators. Since then I have peeked several times more.

The female adult was incubating the eggs.  I noticed the adults going in and out of the box on June 3 since  the eggs had hatched and they were bringing food to the hatchlings.  After two weeks in the box the nestlings had grown enough so they were full size and had gained some flight feathers.  On June 21 most young fledged out of the box, ready to learn how to fly and hunt for their own food: flying insects.

On June 22 the adults coaxed the last young bird to fly.  A few days later, we saw 3 of them perching on a branch looking over the pond.

blackbird nest

The Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus gave away the secret location of their nest by screeching at us as we walked around the pond.  As I came near the spot, he warned me vocally and hit my hat with his feet as he flew by.

 

nest box peek

Peeking into the nest box . . . 

Tree Swallows lay eggs and 
disguise them by sticking feathers 
barb-down so the fluffy vanes curl over the contents of the nest.

In this photo, we can see a few white eggs among the soft grasses in the bottom of the nest box.
 

phoebe

Rainy cold day for flycatchers!  These two Eastern Phoebes Sayornis phoebe rested on the branch and spent several minutes to shake their feathers and preen feathers. Maybe they look bedraggled because they were hunting flying insects in wet weather. 

sora, master of disguise

My new favorite bird!  I just discovered the Sora Porzana carolina (a very secretive wetland bird) this Spring.  I watch a pair every day, hunting at the edge of the pond.  They think the mottled-pattern camouflage feathers makes them hard to spot.  But the bright yellow bill gives them away.   (see post on 4/24/2022)

strutting blackbird

 The blackbird was foraging among the short grasses near the pond.   A female, recently arrived after migrating, landed on a branch of swamp willow.  The male saw her and started displaying his handsome epaulets.  He walked toward her with his feathers fluffed out and tail partly spread.  As he proceeded, he lifted the leading edge of each wing so that the red shoulder patches were puffed up, appearing bigger.  She flew to another small tree; he followed among the willow sprouts, displaying his male beauty to impress her. 

(Red-winged Blackbird males have colorful upperwing coverts of red bordered with yellow on the bend of each wing.  He will use the colorful display to threaten other birds, defend his territory, or attract a mate.)

sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper has again migrated north to Minnesota. This species spends winter as far south as South America.  Welcome back!

crow on rocks

The rocks scattered around the pond are revealed as the water level changes with rain or drought. It is always interesting to see what critter might rest, sun itself, or defend (for a moment) a particular dry rock.

This crow was trying to fetch seeds from the water surface by standing on two rocks.

dabblers and divers

The pond area is bustling with birds arriving! Several species of ducks have stopped for a meal or a day of rest on migration.  I marvel at how they tolerate one another in this small spot of respite. Occasionally we hear honking or see disputes, but mostly the creatures get along.  

Animals have adapted their method to feed in different ways.  For instance, we saw Mallards feeding near Hooded Mergansers. Mallards and Blue-winged Teal are ‘dabblers' – they dip their beak and head into the water to munch on shallow-water plants. Mergansers are ‘divers' – they dive totally under the water to eat plants growing in deep water.  

silly gooses

Canada Geese Branta canadensis occasionally visit the pond, but we discourage them from gathering here.  This is a small community pond and not able to support a flock of geese.

This pair has been hanging around for a week, honking at the ducks. This morning they decided to stand on the roof to get a better view. We love seeing the goslings (see 6/10/2021 goslings), but geese in large numbers can be pests.

 

eagle nest, March

The eagle nest near the pond has been a quiet site while the birds wait for eggs to hatch. 

We can see a white head of the Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus sitting in the nest.  Since she is hunkered down in the 'bowl' the pair formed among the branches, the eggs (or young, if hatched) cannot be seen from the ground.

icicles

March this year promises to be, as usual, a roller-coaster of weather. 

Rain turned to sleet overnight as the temperature dropped.

This morning everything outside was coated with icicles, including bird feeders near the pond.

eagle nest, January

The eagle nest near the pond is again claimed as home for a pair of Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus. One was in the nest for a while before this, probably rearranging sticks to her liking in preparation to lay eggs.

FeederWatch, Downy Woodpecker

 

FeederWatch, a citizen-science program of Cornell University Lab of Ornithology, is once again an activity for me through the cold winter months.  This small Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens comes every day to feed at the suet block hanging near the pond. Suet supplements his regular diet of insects which he searches for between folds of tree bark. His tail feathers are strong and positionable to support him on tree branches or wherever he finds food.

new year 2022 Juncos

Dark-eyed Juncos made their sudden winter appearance several weeks ago.  In Springtime, they find mates and nest "up north" in Canada.  In Autumn they migrate to places across the US where they spend the colder months. Junco hyemalis are flashy little sparrows. I think they look as if they're wearing tuxedoes, with crisp markings -- a white chest and belly, dark gray or black back, and pink bill.  They have bright white tail feathers which they reveal as they flit around on the ground searching for seeds. Juncos flock together in winter, sometimes with others species. When they find a stash of seeds (like this dish on the deck overlooking the pond) they grudgingly takes turns at it.

song sparrow feederwatch

 

Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia live year around in the area around this pond, hiding their nests in grasses, weeds, or small trees. 

Song Sparrows flit through dense, vegetation or low branches, staying low and forage secretively.  They eat insects in the summer; in winter they switch to seeds and fruit they glean from standing plants.  

They will also visit bird feeders.  I notice them especially on 'count days' for FeederWatch.

feederwatch 2021-2022

We do citizen science for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  'FeederWatch' just started for this winter.  https://feederwatch.org/

The pond is surrounded by grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs that provide food for birds.  And we also put out seed and suet in feeders to bring the birds a little closer.