This past Tuesday we had at least five blue jays at the feeder. When I started processing the photos, I discovered that at least one of them was banded.
White-breasted nuthatches have been regular visitors all year long, but until this week I haven’t been able to get a decent photograph of them.
Also from last Tuesday, these shots of a female hairy woodpecker.
This afternoon we were visited by a trio of evening grosbeaks.
The pine grosbeaks returned for a visit this afternoon. Three males (one shown here) and one female.
More evening grosbeaks today. Quite a lot more: they’re starting to turn up in goldfinch-like numbers.
Two American tree sparrows visited the feeder today: the first time we spotted and identified this apparently common species.
It’s snowing this morning, but that didn’t stop a small squadron of Common Redpolls from stopping by the feeder.
Goldfinches and redpolls should stick together,
Goldfinches and redpolls should all be pals.
The snow beneath the bird feeder was covered in seed, and this young blue jay was ON IT.
Today we were visited by dozens of dark-eyed juncos, who descended on our feeder like they were starving. Considering the amount of snow still on the ground, they probably were.
A couple of purple finches turned up this morning. One went so far as to tap on my office window, as though it wanted to get my attention. (The feeder *is* empty, I suppose.)
In the fall of 2017 one of our trees fell over. This afternoon a pileated woodpecker went up and down the length of the trunk, boring for insects.
This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker paid us a visit yesterday afternoon.
This is the best shot I could get of a small bird that turned up on May 3. Our best guess is that it’s a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. What do you think?
This female Brown-headed Cowbird was soon accompanied by two very attentive and demonstrative males.
The Eastern Phoebes have returned to nest above our front porch light. There’s usually one in the nest at any given point: it’s rare to see them together away from it (see third photo, where they appear to be having words about who’s neglecting the kids).
And speaking of the kids, Jennifer had a peek into the phoebes’ nest. Behold, five phoebe eggs—and one egg belonging to the Brown-headed Cowbird, a brood parasite. (I *knew* those cowbirds were up to something.)
New visitor today: a rather vocal Baltimore Oriole. First time I’ve ever seen or heard one.
A hungry fledgling grackle works on the last parental nerve.
And now the grackles are back. Though they come in lots of several hundred, here’s a photo of just one.
This male Downy Woodpecker overstayed his time slot at the suet block this afternoon.
A squadron of blue jays buzzed the house today, and took advantage of the mess the squirrels made.
In winter, bird photography is frequently high-key photography, which has its challenges. Here’s a chickadee from today.
Today we also had a number of dark-eyed juncos foraging in the snow.
A woodpecker (downy) and a nuthatch (white-breasted) are typical winter visitors.
@mcwetboy followed you for the birdwatching postings! :)
A female Hairy Woodpecker bores a fresh hole in an old beech tree.