Urban Pileated Woodpecker!
We do have patches of woods nearby and our back yard is fairly large by urban standards (about 1/2 an acre), but Pileated woodpeckers are very large birds that seem to prefer more wooded, less urban areas.
Interesting Bird Encounter at The Big House
Had an interesting bird encounter Saturday at The Big House with a strange Mourning Dove that landed in the end zone and tried to hide in the blue paint for some reason I’ll never know!
Cooper’s Hawk Attack!
Another Cooper’s Hawk attack around our bird feeders on November 22, 2016. This time by a juvenile, probably female hawk (due to large size)
Attack of the Cooper’s Hawk!
Another Cooper’s Hawk attack witnessed on November 22 out our back window. The young, but good-sized Cooper’s Hawk swooped in missing in the initial attack and then landed on the nearby brush
Red-bellied Woodpecker on Sunflower Seeds
Another first at our backyard feeders, this big male Red-bellied Woodpecker bypassed the peanuts and suet to eat whole sunflower seeds on our feeder!
Juvenile Pied-billed Grebe
Camera guy Mark Gomez sent in this picture of a juvenile Pied-billed Grebe from Stony Creek Metropark.
First ever Purple Finch
They were females but that’s okay. We can be absolutely sure they were Purple Finches that way instead of more of our very numerous and common House Finches!!
First Junco of Fall 2016
There are official signs of fall and one of them is the arrival of the first Dark-eyed Junco! I thought I saw one a couple evenings ago but wasn’t sure.
Big Raccoon tonight!
Stuck my head out the window this evening because I saw one of the feral cats out there but it was off the deck, and that’s when I saw why! BIG raccoon on the deck
Carolina Wren on suet Video
February 10, 2016 I was watching the winter world outside the kitchen window here in SW Lansing, Michigan when I spotted this chunky little Carolina Wren eating suet like it was going out of style!
On Deck with Blue Jays and Red-bellied Woodpeckers
With the fall coming, I’ve been tossing corn kernels on the back deck and the Blue Jays and Red-bellied Woodpeckers are taking full advantage!
Red-bellied Woodpecker eating corn
A new observation at our backyard feeders. Red-bellied Woodpeckers had been gone from our backyard for a few months but one male recently returned to our feeders and is doing something unseen before – eating whole corn kernels off the deck!
Juvenile Northern Cardinals
We have several juvenile Northern Cardinals hanging out this fall at our backyard feeders! They’re very entertaining trying to get their turn at the seed feeders – mainly the sunflower seed tray.
Pine Siskins in Pine
These Northern forest dwellers, the Pine Siskins, had never stopped by our urban backyard feeders before two seasons ago when 2 of the cute little birds showed up. They’re about the same size as a large Goldfinch
The Male House Finch
I keep watching the vast array of House Finches looking for a Purple Finch among them to no avail so far. But some of the male House Finches are somewhat beautiful though common as House Sparrows
Chickadee Neck Deep
Black-capped Chickadees are another one of those overachiever birds. They work hard for their food and energy.
The Cool Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren is one of my favorite backyard birds. Most days I walk out back and hear the overly loud call of this small but powerful bird, whether it is singing, cheering or ditting away, looking for love, and other Carolina Wrens!
Second Visit by the Gray Squirrel
We just had our second visit ever to our backyard feeders by a black phase Gray Squirrel. I wanted to add a picture but it got spooked up a nearby tree by some noise outside.