Hummingbird in flight..

There are not many hummingbirds at the feeder. Perhaps most of them were killed by the cold weather or perhaps I need to change the mixture, or perhaps there are flowers out already. Here is a photo of one ready to land on the artificial flower perch on the feeder.

Messy Crows..

We had two dozen eggs that we left in our fridge for several months so rather than toss them in the garbage we boiled them and gave them to the crows. At first the crows cleaned them up but when I put all two dozen out the result is a mess of shells with bits of egg still adhering to some. I think the crows probably had indigestion because they did not come back to clean up everything. However this morning I had some stale bread and put it on the plate and they were back. I will have to go and clean up the shells though since they are still there.

Starlings visit regularly ...

Starlings visit the feeder rather regularly now. They usually feed on the ground as shown in this photo. I find the starling very attractive with the iridescent colours on its head.

First photo of Baltimore Oriole

Yesterday for the first time I saw a Balitimore oriole on the feeder and was able to snap a photo. I haven't seen a Baltimore for ages. I am lucky to see one once a year and even luckier to be able to manage a photo.

A few goldfinches brave the cool weather...

There are already a few goldfinches about. Yesterday a humming bird approached a goldfinch at the feeder. No doubt the hummingbird seeing the bright yellow colour thought he had found a rare early flower. Maybe the humming bird needs glasses. Here is a fuzzy goldfinch at the feeder. As usual yours truly did not hold the camera very still.

Harris sparrow among pine siskins

The Harris sparrow stands out among the group of pine siskins feeding underneath the feeder. It is quite a bit larger with a black head and throat and light coloured breast. I have seen more Harris sparrows this year than any other year. Usually I am lucky to see one or two a year but this year I see several every day.

First Humming bird this year

I saw the first humming bird early last evening. I was astonished. The temperature was to go down to minus two C. I hastily cleaned the feeder and prepared a solution and then set it out before dark. This morning there was a male feeding about 7 AM when the temperature was minus one. It seemed to be functioning OK but often the frost kills them. The humming birds must have a wrong interpretation of global warning. It doesn't mean there will be no late frosts in late May and early June! Most years some birds that come early freeze to death. People find them lying underneath their feeders.

Harris sparrows

There are more Harris sparrows around the feeder than I have ever seen before. The same is true of white-crowned sparrows. This is a photo of a Harris sparrow on the ground beneath the feeder. There is a white-crowned sparrow also with the crown hidden somewhat by the feeder post.

Oodles of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks.

I have been able to take a number of photos of the colorful rose-breasted grosbeaks. They are quite plentiful around the feeder the last few days. The feeder is overrun with birds lately. Yesterday it snowed but the snow melted quickly and only a little is visible in this photo.

First photos of Yellow Head black birds

This is the first photo I have ever been able to obtain of a yellow headed blackbird. Fortunately I was able to capture two in one of our spruce trees. This is the first I have ever seen them come to the feeder. I guess there is not much to eat in the sloughs at the moment. The yellow heads are much less common than the red-wings.

Mourning dove this morning.

This morning I was up early and I could hear the plaintive coo of a mourning dove as I sat at my computer. The sound is quite haunting. At the same time I could hear the much more cheerful robin chirps also.

A lone brown thrasher..

I took this photo of the thraser through the window and between ornaments on the windowsill as the bird was almost directly under the window. I usually only see a thrasher once or twice a year. I was lucky to get a photo of any kind!

Two starlings visit.

This is a photo of a juvenile starling. The adults are quite a bit darker. Two of them probably a pair visited the feeder early this morning but fed underneath the feeder picking up sunflower seeds from the ground. They visit occasionally. Right now there are oodles of pine siskins. They can empty the feeder in a day.

Feeding the Crows..

I have an old plate in the middle of the front yard that I place chicken and fish bones and food scraps on. Usually the remains are quickly snatched by local crows although upon occasion a stray cat or dog may manage to get at the scraps first.

I have a fondness for crows a fondness not shared by most locals who dislike their noisy squawks. I like to watch them. They are usually wary when they approach the food but sometimes they just dash in and off with whatever they can carry. There usually do not eat at the scene but carry the food away to be eaten at some supposedly safer location.

Juncos Still abound..

There are still many juncos here. I imagine that they will be moving north one day soon. At present, the feeder is overrun with birds: pine siskins, purple finches, juncos, and the odd chickadee. Redpolls seem to have disappeared for the most part.

White crowned sparrows return...

The first white-crowned sparrow of the year has appeared at the feeder. There was one lone sparrow among crowds of male and female purple finches, pine siskins and slate coloured juncos. The poor black capped chickadees dart in to feed and find no room! The siskins in particular are quite scrappy and intolerant of other birds at the feeder platform.