Jan
7
2015
I spotted the pileated woodpecker, again, (this time from my window in my den) climbing up the tree across the street. I shouted to my wife to glimpse it it but it was too late: it had flown away. She had never seen one. Its red crest and large size were unmistakable. I assured her she would get another chance to see it: the bird would be back.
Dec
13
2014
Today I saw an hairy and a red bellied woodpecker at the same time travelling up and down on the trunk of our white pine we put a suet cake on. The hairy woodpecker was an unusual visitor. A hairy woodpecker looks just like a downy woodpecker–just bigger. For months we stopped putting out birdseed because a bear visited our property one time too often destroying our gate during one visit. Our dogs were no help: they slept right through all the bear’s visits. My wife once saw the bear standing in the yard at night munching on birdseed on the ground.
Nov
17
2014
I have been putting out birdseed again for several months. I had stopped for a few months. We had several visits from a bear who was tearing down all the bird feeders helping himself. The last week was the first time I saw a red bellied woodpecker (several times) and a Carolina wren. I could have sworn I saw a brown creeper and the first flock of slate covered juncos feeding on the ground. These were all first sighting of these birds since I put back the feeders.
Nov
2
2014
I heard a tapping above me outside and I could not find the source. Finally I noted a pileated woodpecker was tapping the wood on a dead tree and he was at least fifty feet up. The tree bordered the street across from me. I only identified the bird by moving to the side of the tree. There was no mistaking its exotic red crest and large size. It was the closest I have ever been to such a woodpecker. He stayed there tapping on the wood for at least fifteen minutes. I tried to get my wife’s attention so she could see the bird but she let the dogs loose in the yard and the commotion must have flushed the bird. I have only seen several in the time I have lived in this area although I hear their wild cackle occasionally.
Mar
30
2014
Where do the slate-colored juncos go in the warm weather? It is still relatively cold and they still are in the yard feeding on the birdseed on the ground. There are less of them. I know they will disappear when it gets warmer and no more snow. I thought I read they migrate further north. I am really curious. I have to look it up in one of my bird books. It is usually the other way around. Some birds migrate when it become colder. Not those birds. They usually arrive when the first snow comes. It is a mystery to me.
Mar
29
2014
It is a mystery to me when birds come to my feeders. Sometimes the dogs chase them away. Other times I don’t know why they don’t come. There is birdseed there. I just don’t know. It is always puzzling to me that I can put out a new suet cake and the birds find it almost right away. And that is after I have been out for awhile. The birds provide such pleasure. In the spring I noted we have quite a few goldfinch. Sometimes there are so many I see them at two different feeders–the sunflower and thistle feeder. It always amazes me that one will sit on the thistle feeder for five minutes at a time feeding. The males are reverting to yellow, again. We have been having three different kinds of woodpeckers come to eat the suet: downy, red bellied and now hairy. The hairy woodpecker has become a regular visitor. In the past, we hardly ever saw one. At least one knows about the suet. The hairy woodpecker is twice the size of the downy. Though somewhat similar in markings.
Mar
4
2014
I made several small discoveries today. My rubber tree in my office had new growth on four branches. I forgot that it has dormant periods. It is over three feet high. I give it a little water every day. That is the extent of my care. I never had one do well before. I will just continue doing what I am doing. I like looking at it every day and noticing anything new about it.
There were actually six goldfinch on my thistle feeder briefly and I noticed five or six also on my sunflower feeder at the same time. Goldfinch will sit there five minutes feeding. Now they are all gone. All the birds appeared to be male. That seems a little odd.
Last fall before the cold killed the two Gerbera daisies outside we brought them in. The annuals were going to die any way. And stuck both plants by the window and occasionally would give them water. The one closer to the window actually had a flower we discovered yesterday. I could not determine the color yet.
These were just three small observations I made in the last twenty-four hours.
Mar
3
2014
An hairy woodpecker came to our suet two times in the last three days. It is one we don’t see too often. It is marked just like a downy woodpecker only bigger. There was no red on its head so it was a female. Monday I was thrilled: I not only saw my first robin of the season but also an hairy woodpecker. At least, one hairy woodpecker is now aware of the suet I put out.
Mar
1
2014
I am prepared for the goldfinch. I bought five pounds of thistle for my feeder. Now I sometimes get three or four goldfinch at one time. For a long time I did not get any. From my observation in early spring the goldfinch come to my feeder in flocks. In the past I have counted as many as twenty at one time. That, of course includes the ones feeding on the ground on the thistle that falls there. Often the goldfinch will remain at the feeder for five minutes or more. Before I know it the the males will turn golden again. That always amazes me.
Mar
1
2014
Today was the earliest time of the year I have ever seen a robin in this area. Three weeks before spring. And most of the land was still snow covered. First I saw the back of one fly away and I was not completely sure it was a robin. A few seconds later I spotted the tell-tale red breast of an another robin. And minutes later I spotted in one spot at least ten robins congregating in some bare spots. There is no mistaking their hip hop. The robins are going to be in trouble: the weather forecast is for another snowstorm in two days. I don’t know what they are going to eat.
Dec
3
2013
I put out all my birdseed. I was out of all my different kinds–regular, sunflower, suet and thistle. A nuthatch immediately found the birdseed (regular) on the platform I laid seed on. I put fresh thistle for the goldfinch. My wife said they all migrated away. I suspected the thistle (which I had bought months ago) had gone stale. I will see who is right. I almost never run out of feed for them. It was only a day so they were not out of feed too long. Anyway, I now will continue to watch the visitors that come to my feeders.
Nov
12
2013
I spotted my first slate-colored junco in the yard two days ago. I guess winter and snow is on its way. The bird’s flittering back white wings was unmistakable. It vanished into the undergrowth of the gigantic bush. I saw my second one today. Last night we got a smattering of snow. I have a friend who calls them “snow” birds so, maybe, the sighting was no accident. They are often found in flocks so as we get more snow I may see more. I never see them in the summer. It is a mystery to me where they go then.
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