Birds at Feeders 2020-21

 

Red-breasted nuthatch, 11/22/2020

American goldfinch with two pine siskins.  They often flock together.

Pine siskins 2/13/2021

Immature rose-breasted grosbeak, migrant, first bird seen at feeder in autumn 2020 (October)

1. Rose-breasted grosbeak
2. Carolina chickadee
3. Tufted titmouse
4. House finch
5. Purple finch
6. American goldfinch
7. Pine Siskin
8. Ruby-crowned kinglet
9. Carolina wren
10. Downy woodpecker
11. Red-bellied woodpecker
12. Northern mockingbird
13. Brown Thrasher
14. Blue jay
15. Northern junco
16. Palm Warbler
17. Pine Warbler
18. Orange-crowned Warbler
19. Yellow-rumped Warbler
20. Mourning Dove
21. House sparrow
22. White-throated sparrow
23. Chipping Sparrow
24. Northern Cardinal
25. White-breasted nuthatch
26. Red-breasted nuthatch
27. Brown-headed nuthatch
28. Baltimore Oriole
29. Sharp-shinned Hawk
30. Eastern Phoebe

First Bird of the New Feeding Season

This isn't a great photo - taken through the window - but I had to upload it. Last year, though people all over Anderson SC were seeing rose-breasted grosbeaks, we didn't see a single one.

In August I took down our feeders to clean them and put them back up yesterday afternoon. I didn't see anything then. This morning, 10/4/2020, Mike says "There's something unusual at the feeders."  

Lo and behold, an immature male rose-breasted. Who would have thought that this would be our very first bird of the new feeding season!!

Yes, That's Really Its Name

Last week, right after Hurricane Sally, a brown booby was spotted several times at Lake Strom Thurmond, near McCormick.  Okay, reader, we’re not making this up.  This is a real bird that really did come to the lake.  I have no idea how it got its name, but that’s what it is.  And now that we have taken care of that small detail, we can continue.

 

According to the range maps, the brown booby is not supposed to be found north of Miami.  This is a large seabird, living its life in tropical ocean waters worldwide.  It nests on Caribbean or other sea islands, or sometimes on sea debris large enough to support a nest.   Its back and upper parts are brown, with white underparts, and it has a large bluish bill.  

 

Occasionally a stray finds itself further north, usually because of a hurricane or other strong weather system.  Four years ago, another brown booby stayed at the Lake Strom Thurmond dam for two weeks.  This caused quite a stir among the local birding community, and many Carolina birders were able to go to the overlooks at the dam to view this unusual bird.

 

One Friday afternoon, I talked Mike into going to try to see it.  The drive was a haul, going through tiny towns on two-lane roads for a couple of hours.  However, the observation was not to be.  The winds were horrendous.  I could barely hang onto my binoculars, or even myself, on the rocks at the edge of the lake.  We scanned the shore and the bridge for a long time, and drove around to other places with views of the lake, but never did see it.  We did come home through Abbeville and got a nice meal, so the trip was not all in vain.  

 

In 2018, another brown booby was found in the upstate - this one in Greenville, near the bell tower on the lake at Furman.  This bird hung out for most of the month of May, apparently completely blown off course and not sure what to do or where to go.  It was not shy and even seemed like it was posing for pictures. It’s very unusual looking with its large bluish bill, and we enjoyed the treat of seeing a seabird so far out of its range.  We got several good photographs, as did many other local people who came to see it, before it finally disappeared to who knows where. 

 

So there you have it - the brown booby, seen occasionally in the upstate.  The story behind the snicker.  You may now return to your regularly scheduled serious reading.

Why Should I Write About Robins?

 “I think you ought to write about robins,” Mike said randomly one day. Robins! Why in the world would he think robins!  Robins are just--there.  They are one of the most common birds around Anderson and across the entire country - just look at a range map in a field guide or on the internet.  Everywhere. 

 

While thinking about robins, I contacted a bird photographer acquaintance to see if he had a robin photo.  He doesn’t have one, because “I guess I took them too much for granted.”  Exactly.  Why should I write about robins, when other people are unimpressed, and many other species are so much more unusual and interesting?

 

Maybe I’ve never been too excited about robins because their appearance is somewhat nondescript--just dark grey and dull orange.  However, at least one robin color could simply be personal prejudice.  At the risk of alienating some readers -- Mike and I are not too crazy about the color orange, if you get my drift.  

 

I remember as a child of four or five looking out our front window at a robin on our lawn, and my mother explaining to me that they were one of the first birds of spring in our Illinois yard.  Even though in more northern states they’re considered to be harbingers of warmer weather, here in South Carolina we see them year round.  January robins don’t exactly impress us that spring is about to arrive.

 

Robins do have a pretty song, which like most birds is most often heard in the spring.  Their song is similar to a bluebird’s, because both are thrushes, a bird family known for melodic singing.  They are familiar sights in urban yards, running short distances and then stopping to look and listen for worms.  We all have a mental picture from childhood storybooks of a robin pulling up a worm from the ground--even if it’s not something that we actually observe very often.  

 

Which leads me back to the question:  “Why should I write about robins?”  I asked Mike.

 

“Well, look at them,” he said as he glanced over our rain-soaked yard.  Robins were everywhere, spread out over the lawn.  Each was intently working its area, watching and listening for dinner.  “They’re perfect to write about now.  They’re great examples.”

 

I looked at him through unconvinced eyes, wondering again what kind of crazy idea was going through his mind.  “And in what possible way are robins good examples?!” I asked.

 

“They’re smarter than you think.  They’re great at social distancing.”

 

And sure enough, they were perfectly spaced out, at least six feet apart, as if they were following the rules.  Socially correct birds - a perfect topic for these COVID days.  I think I’ll write about robins.

Orchard Orioles and the Unexpected

I’ve learned not to have an agenda for what to find when seeing or listening for birds. It’s a little like going to yard sales.  If I’m specifically looking for a white wicker basket, none will be found in a radius of twenty miles.  However, I had better be on the lookout for just about anything - because otherwise I might overlook the like-new throw rug that is perfect for my porch.  It’s the same with birdwatching.  Always be on the lookout for the unexpected bird that turns out to be something special.

 

That’s where the orchard oriole comes in.  Most people are unfamiliar with this pretty bird.  I have never set out to find an orchard oriole, which is pronounced by bird guides to be “fairly common” in the upstate.  They are lesser-known cousins of the flashier Baltimore orioles, which are black and brilliant orange, and which migrate through our area on the way to their more northern nesting grounds.  The orchard oriole does nest in upstate South Carolina.  The male orchard looks almost identical to a Baltimore male except in its hue of orange: the Baltimore is bright, but the orchard’s shade is much rustier and more subtle.  Females of both species are greenish-yellow, although Baltimore females may be more orange-tinted.

 

We’ve unexpectedly run across orchard orioles three times in our years of wildlife-watching adventures:  the first one at Huntington Beach State Park, one while on vacation at Debordieu Colony near Georgetown, and the third one just a few weeks ago on our farm property.  Mike and I were relaxing in the open doorway of the barn, enjoying the afternoon breezes.  I was certainly not particularly expecting to see one of these beauties, but an orchard oriole, like many other less common birds, tends to sneak in when a person has no idea it is coming.  

 

I saw a brief flash of something moving into the trees to my left; at first I thought it was all black, like a grackle, and then realized that this bird also had some color to it.  It lit on a branch where it could be seen, and a look through binoculars confirmed that it was an oriole.  A second look confirmed its rusty color.  And fortunately it stayed long enough that I could get my sometimes cantankerous camera focused on it and get a picture.  It stayed in the tree for a few minutes - and then it was gone.  If we hadn’t been on the lookout for movement in the trees, we would have never known it had been there. 

 

Finding something I don’t plan to find at a yard sale is always fun.  And that brief unplanned glimpse of an orchard oriole in our trees was fun also--a splash of beauty in an otherwise ordinary day.  It was all the evidence I needed to keep watching for the unexpected.

 

Killdeer Chicks and Blueberry Threats

Of course this was the morning that I forgot my good camera, when I could have gotten great pictures of a mama killdeer rescuing her chicks from a big, bad threat.

Mike and I were picking blueberries, deep in the bushes that we inherited with our farm purchase a year ago.  (36 gallons of berries gathered so far.)  I was down on my low stool, getting the hidden gems at the bottom, when I heard our resident killdeer make her characteristic “che-ee” sound from the old garden area to our left.  She must have been teaching her chicks to spread their wings a little, because this was quite distant from their usual home in the woods and water hole near the entrance of the property.  But now she had detected peril.  Two tall creatures were in the blueberry bushes, and too close for comfort! One was even wearing a floppy hat!  This was dangerous.  She continued her noises, worked on a plan, and stayed close to protect her chicks.

Mike made his own human version of the “che-ee” sound, which must have worked, because as I continued collecting low-hanging berries, I could hear the mama moving toward us, but coming in a wide arc around the bushes and at a safe distance away. And following her, here came the three chicks making much lighter and softer sounds.  When I stood up I could see two of the little ones had made it to the gravel to my right, heading with determination for home and stopping every second or so, the way killdeer move when they’re checking out their surroundings.  And Mama was alongside on the low deck beside them, chaperoning their travel.

But trouble was brewing.  The third chick got turned around, and instead of heading for home, was moving straight toward the wall of the barn instead.  Mama was worried.  Her cheeping sounds got louder and more intense.  

And then, even as his siblings were approaching safety, the stray chick got even more confused, getting behind the four-wheeler instead of turning toward home. Mama was not leaving him.  Her calls got more urgent, doing everything possible to get him going in the right direction.  We kept picking berries, but the unfolding sight was too interesting to ignore.

Finally, success.  Mama slowly got the little one turned in the right direction.  The two ran with their typical intermittent killdeer motion across the deck, properly pointed toward the watering hole.  They scooted across the gravel and made it to the woods.  The silence told us that Mama was no longer upset and that all three babies had made it to safety from those big, bad, blueberry-picking threats.

The killdeer were safe and happy.  We got two more gallons of berries.  Even if the camera did get left at home, it was a good morning.

American Goldfinch - Brilliant Bird of Mid-Summer

The local bird of mid-summer has to be the American goldfinch, which has been compared to a flying stick of butter.  It’s about that size, and its color is similar, although brighter.  A glimpse of a breeding male goldfinch will take a first-time observer’s breath away. It is brilliantly yellow, and brilliant is an understatement.  This bird is colored a yellow that is so intense that the first time someone sees one, he is not sure that he’s really seen a natural bird.  Yes, it’s that bright.  And that beautiful.

In addition to the bright yellow color, a breeding male has a black patch on its forehead that looks like a jaunty cap topping it off, and its jet-black wings also complement its color perfectly.

By July most birds are winding up their nesting and raising young for the year.  Not so with the American goldfinch.  It’s just getting a good start.  That’s because they like milkweed and thistle, plants that come out later in the season.  The goldfinches incorporate these seeds into their nests as well as feed them to the young birds.  The beautiful design of  goldfinches allows them to reproduce when milkweed and thistle seeds are more prominent.

One way to attract goldfinches is to hang a bag of nyger seed, which is a great substitute for thistle.  Nyger is sterilized (to prevent it from germinating), and net bags of this tiny seed are easily found at hardware and grocery stores.  If the seed is relatively fresh, goldfinches will almost mob it at times.  They are picky, however.  If they ignore a nyger bag, the seed is probably old, and the birds won’t come to it.  They also come to sunflower seed in feeders year-round.

The contrast between a breeding male and a winter male is striking.  In the winter, a male goldfinch is drab – a grayish brown color with gray-black wings and a hint of yellow, almost indistinguishable from the female, who is grayish brown and yellow year round.  But around the end of March, the male’s bright breeding color begins coming in.   Soon it has taken on the lemony butter hue for which it is so well known. 

These birds are common around our area.  Anyone who keeps eyes open has a good chance of seeing one out in open areas.  Even after many years, I still find it a mid-summer treat to look up and see the undulating flight of a pair of goldfinches, the bright yellow of the male leading the way as the two dip and rise through the spring and summer sky.  

Mockingbird - Singing Its Heart Out

Anyone familiar with Harper Lee’s famous book To Kill a Mockingbird knows that Atticus tells his daughter Scout that it’s a sin to kill one of these birds, and neighbor Miss Maudie further explains, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.”

Well, Miss Maudie is right that mockingbirds do sing.  Extensively.  A mockingbird has one of the clearest and most obvious singing voices in the bird world.  And at times they don’t limit their singing to the daytime.  Not long ago a friend posted a video on Facebook that she had taken close to midnight one evening.   The video was completely black, but the audio was a mockingbird in full singing mode. “Isn’t this bird ever going to be quiet?” she asked in desperation.  

Mockingbirds are one of our most common bird species, seen regularly on power lines and fences, in neighborhood yards and urban parks, and over open country fields.  They can be observed irritating crows in flight.  They have an understated beauty with their sleek pearl-gray, dark gray, and white coloration.  Mockers have long slim bodies, and are easily recognized when flying because of the white patches on their wings and down both sides of their tails.

Mockingbirds are mimics with great ability to copy other birds’ songs.  Once while on a lunch break at a summer job in Greenville, I counted 20 song changes from a mockingbird, without a single repeat.  And the various calls continued after I had to go back inside.  While a few other birds also do some mimicking, none have the extensive repertoire of this gregarious bird.  

Most people think that the mocker sings for the sheer pleasure of singing.  However, it has much stronger reasons for its outbursts of song.  The mockingbird is extremely territorial and will aggressively defend its area.  But a mockingbird does not sing year-round -- it limits its vocalizations to spring and fall.  In the spring and early summer it is setting up territory for nesting, and in the fall it is setting up its winter boundaries.  A careful observer will notice that, as it sings, the mocker flies from perch to perch around the perimeter of the area it has chosen.  

And therein lies the rub with Miss Maudie’s explanation. Yes, this bird sings and sings, appearing to vocalize its heart for our pleasure.  However, the mockingbird’s song is not so much a joyful cry as it is a warning to all other birds:  “Stay away!  This area is mine!”

Painted Bunting - Jewel of the Beach

Painted Bunting - Jewel of the Beach

Years ago, Mike and I pooled our change, took our baby on a whirlwind two-night beach trip, and stayed at a beyond-rustic little inn on Pawleys Island that would be swept away two months later in Hurricane Hugo.  (“Breakfast Included” at this place meant we got a Styrofoam bowl with some cereal and milk.)  On a car trip exploring the area, we somehow wandered into the back part of Litchfield Plantation and were attempting to turn around in the maintenance parking lot - when a flash of bright colors landed in a bush right in front of us.  “Mike!”  I exclaimed (if you can “exclaim” in a whisper), “Painted bunting!”  It was a life bird for both of us and was the highlight of that brief run to the beach.  We’ve been privileged to see a number of them since then.

Painted buntings are the jewels of the beach.  Their bright colors - blue head, yellow-green back, and red underparts - make the males unmistakable and unforgettable.  The females are yellow-green only, and though not as flamboyant as males, are still pretty.  These beauties used to be seen strictly along the coast and only in the summer, but their range has been expanding so that sometimes they are seen as far inland as Columbia (as well as expanding upward from Texas into the Midwest), and some are even staying year-round near the coast.  

You can find painted buntings at the beach, but you won’t find them while sunning along the tide line. Buntings like scrubby areas, so as you are taking your bicycle or golf cart ride or walking around your area, look for undeveloped places filled with brush and bushes.  With vigilance you have a good chance of seeing one in this habitat.  They also like to sing from exposed perches, so you may hear their lovely song from above before you see them.  Keep your binoculars handy.

A great place to see painted buntings in the summer - we have never failed to see one here - is at Huntingdon Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet.  Enter the park, cross the causeway, and take a left.  Check out the bird feeder at the observation deck on your left, across from Sandpiper Pond nature trail parking lot - that feeder is usually filled with white millet, a favorite of painted buntings.  Continue driving slowly down the road toward the beach access, listening for a beautiful trilling song and keeping your eyes on the exposed perches at the tops of trees.  On a hot summer day, you have a great chance of seeing one of these beautiful birds.

And, no matter how fancy or rustic the place where you are staying, if you are a bird enthusiast, finding one of these summertime jewels will be the long-remembered crowning touch of a beach trip.  

Carolina Wren - Small but Mighty!!

Carolina Wren - Small but Mighty!!

I pulled into our garage after a long day of work, gathered my things and got out of the car to head inside, and – bam!!  A little brown ball of feathers dive-bombed me and made it clear that I had invaded HER territory!  I ducked and headed for the door, while she flew to the top of the garage door opener.  Then I saw the reason for her ferocity – She was building a nest there.  In OUR garage.  Wait – is it our garage, or is it hers?  She would have me believe that she had taken over the ownership.

Carolina wrens are the forceful but delightful personalities in our local songbird world.  These small brown birds are inquisitive, busy, and constantly moving.  They are fun to watch as they flit about on their daily activities.  They are the largest of the wrens (less common winter wrens and house wrens are also seen in our area at various times) and yet are only about 5.5 inches long and weigh an ounce or less.  A Carolina wren’s head and back are a beautiful honey brown color, and its underparts are white with a rusty wash.  These birds have long, slightly downturned bills, and distinct white stripes through their eyes.  And they have short stubby tails that are usually cocked at a 90 degree angle to their bodies.

And they are loud!  You likely have heard one even if you did not see it.  Their song is one of the brightest and cheeriest of the songbirds, usually heard as “TEA-kettle, TEA-kettle, TEA-kettle.”  They have other calls that also strongly announce their presence.  They thrive in town settings as long as enough trees and low growth in the area provide cover for them, and their rich melodic sounds will let local residents know that they are around.

These little birds will nest anywhere.  In addition to the top of our garage door opener, we have had them attempt to nest in a pocket of an old flannel shirt of my husband’s, and on a shelf in our storage room.  If we remove the beginnings of a nest, the wrens persistently attempt another one.  And another.  One year we had to leave the garage door shut at all times because of one particularly determined wren.  

Carolina wrens usually eat insects; however, they do come to feeders, especially in the winter.  They are attracted to suet more than to sunflower seed.  They will suddenly appear at the suet, get their fill, and then be gone again.  They are too busy to hang around socializing with the other birds at a feeding station.

The cheery behavior of Carolina wrens brings smiles to people’s faces.  Listen for their sounds, then watch for them in woods or in brush piles around more open areas.  They are a pleasant diversion in difficult times.  They are small but mighty in every way! 

Ospreys on the Nest

Ospreys On The Nest

I could sense my friend’s excitement even in her text.  “We think we’ve got a bald eagle nesting in the cell tower near our house!”  Knowing the nests that are present on several cell towers in our area, I suggested to her, “Are you sure you’re not looking at an osprey?”  Soon she sent another text:  “You’re right, we used our telescope and can see it’s an osprey.”  She may have been a little disappointed, but she needn’t have been.  An osprey may not be a bald eagle, but it’s still an unusual nature observation.  And they are large and beautiful raptors.

These birds, which used to be known as fish hawks, are about six to eight inches smaller than eagles and have white underparts, as compared to mature bald eagles which are all brown except for their heads and tails.  

Ospreys are known to mate for life and often return to the same nest, adding to it each year.  After hatching, the 2-4 nestlings are cared for by their parents until flight occurs at about seven weeks.  Young birds can be observed strengthening their wings by flapping until they rise above the nest and then sink back down.

A really fortunate observer at the lake can see an osprey swoop down and catch lunch or dinner.  We’ve seen that happening while enjoying the Galley Restaurant for our own dinner,.  When an osprey spots a fish, it hovers over the water, then plunges feet first to catch its meal in its talons.  The male usually does the fishing to bring food back to the nest when young are present.

I know of at least four cell towers or high platforms in Anderson where ospreys nest, and more are no doubt around.  This is a relatively recent phenomenon for which we can thank the presence of Lake Hartwell (and the DDT ban).  Ospreys used to nest only near the coast; however, they have followed water routes and are now nesting inland.  If you can safely pull over when you pass a cell tower, look to see if you see messy sticks poking out around the top.  If so, you are probably looking at an osprey nest.  And if you’re lucky, you’ll see birds, either adults or maybe little ones as well.  The nests are so high that you’ll need binoculars to get a good look.  The cell tower nest at the corner of Highway 24 and Alice Drive is a good one to study, because a pull-off provides a safe spot where watchers can park and observe the activity.

Looking up and seeing an osprey nest, and following the progression of the little ones as they mature, is a wonderful experience  for my friend, who is now watching the nest near her home.  She’s getting a great education in nature study.  And now that ospreys nest in our area--you can, too.  

Red-Headed Woodpecker - Uncommon but Regal

Red-Headed Woodpecker - Uncommon but Regal

My husband and I were enjoying a late afternoon breeze on our back porch one July afternoon, when we observed a highly unexpected event.  The woodpecker I most wanted to see in my yard finally appeared!  A flash of white, black, and red swooped through the air and lit on a tree trunk about a hundred feet away – a stunning red-headed woodpecker had finally made an appearance.  It was a red-letter day (no pun intended) for this bird-watcher.  We watched it peck at the trunk for several minutes and got a great look at it since it stayed in view so long.  I even got a good photo of this brilliant bird before it finally took off for other parts.  That was almost a year ago, and I’ve not seen one since that day.  

The red-headed woodpecker is classified as “uncommon” in most areas of the eastern U.S., including ours. I’ve spotted them in Anderson just a handful of times over the past few years – once on River Street, once at the intersection of West Whitner and Tower, several times on Moultrie Square, and more recently on Mar-Mac Road (we observed a nesting pair half a dozen times there a couple of years ago).   This bird is so striking that an occasional glimpse of one is very satisfying.

Large patches of black and white on its back, belly, and wings make the red-headed woodpecker’s appearance very dramatic.  And that head!!  It looks like a brilliant red hood was lowered onto its head and draped around its shoulders. This woodpecker is unmistakable and easily identified when seen.  Its coloration makes it one of the most beautiful birds around.

Many people confuse the red-headed woodpecker with the red-bellied, which is more common in Anderson and surrounding areas.  The two birds are approximately the same size, and the red-bellied does have some red on its head (as do most woodpecker species).  However, the red-bellied woodpecker does not have the broad white patches on its belly and wings or the intensely ruby shaded head and neck, and is thus not as striking in appearance as the red-headed.  Its black and white coloration is interspersed over its body, and is said to be ladder-backed.  It is still a bird to appreciate, but it doesn’t have the same dramatic effect on an observer as does its more flamboyant cousin.

Even though I won’t see one often, during travels I will always keep my eyes peeled for red-headed woodpeckers.  They seem to pop up at the most unexpected times and unexpected places.  Keep looking as you travel around town, and you may be blessed with a quick view of this stunning, beautiful bird - the uncommon but regal red-headed woodpecker.

Rare Birds in Anderson

Rare Birds in Anderson

One Saturday morning when out and about, Mike and I rode to the old Green Pond landing on Lake Hartwell, just to see if anything interesting was out there.  In the midst of about twenty Canada geese was a slightly smaller white goose, which I assumed was either domestic or was a snow goose - an uncommon find.  But while studying its features with binoculars, I realized that it was different than a snow goose--slightly smaller, with a different bill and head shape.  “I think this is a Ross’s goose,” I said after studying the field guide, “but according to the map they’re not supposed to be in this area.”

“Ann,” Mike said, in that patient but maddening tone men sometimes use when talking to their wives, “Birds are wild.  They go where they want to go.  They don’t read the range maps.”  Well, his logic, also maddening even if it made sense, was exactly correct.  So I added Ross’s Goose to my eBird report, and as expected, it flagged as a rare bird for our area.

Since the advent of the internet, finding rare birds has become much easier.  Notable bird observations in the Carolinas can be found each day by accessing carolinabirdclub.org/sightings/.  This website flags the unusual birds that observers have included on lists uploaded to the site eBird.org.  Last December, I checked the list one morning and found that a white pelican had been spotted the day before at the pond in Chris Taylor Memorial Park.  White pelicans, unlike the common brown ones found at our beaches, usually occur much farther west of here. I drove quickly to the park in hopes of getting a glimpse of it.  By that time, however, it had gone on its merry wild way.  

The Townville area, with its extensive fields bordered by thick scrubby woods, is sometimes home to rare birds.  Several years ago a short-eared owl wintered there.  Word spread, and many evenings people showed up to watch this beautiful but far out of range owl that flew out of the nearby woods like clockwork at dusk each evening.  Also, shorebirds that ought to be closer to the coast, such as a pair of black-necked stilts, occasionally stop by the ponds that dot the area.  Sometimes these rarities stay a few days, affording more people the opportunity to see them.

One draw that makes birding interesting is that no one can predict what might be passing through.  While most observations will be of birds that belong here, I’ve learned to be cautiously aware of the possibility of spotting that occasional rare bird.  And I’ve also accepted that “Birds are wild.  They go where they want to go.  They don’t read the range maps.”  True, yes.  But still maddening.

Pileated Woodpecker

No pics, because it was flying, but I saw a pileated woodpecker today for the first time since the mid-90s.  And right after I went inside, Mike saw the pair flying together right by our cabin.  Great experience.  Next time maybe I can get a picture.

Solitary Sandpiper

Seen 5/1/2020 at our farm property in Due West.  It was by the small wet-weather pond beside our driveway, and was not the least bit frightened by our presence.  New bird for both Mike and me.

White-eyed Vireo

Saw a new bird at the farm today - a white-eyed vireo.  Unfortunately it moved too quickly for me to get a picture.  I was immediately taken by the bright yellow around its eyes, and a yellow wash on its underparts.  I have never seen any vireo before, so this was a real treat.

Edit:  Added picture 5/30/2020

Recent Photos February 2020

Hooded Mergansers on a pond near our property in Due West.  Right on the highway.

Tom turkey in the snow - our back yard

Orange crowned warbler during the snow

Carolina wrens.  They were jumping back and forth from the pavement to the wheel well.

Two photos with beautiful coloration.  In this one my camera focused on the bluebird. . . .

. . . and in this one on the cardinal.

Lightened photo of a cardinal in the bare bushes...

...and another.

Birds in the snow!!

We had an unexpected snowfall this morning.  Weatherman had called for a cold rain, with a chance of flurries around daybreak.  Well, the weather didn't start until around 10:00 this morning, and soon big, white, fluffy flakes were coming down, and continued falling until about 3:00 this afternoon.  So we have an inch of beautiful snow on the ground, and the bird activity was heavy.  It's been a surprise winter day, but very enjoyable.

Just a common house finch, but the snow on his crown makes a pretty picture.

First goldfinch of the year!

Orange-crowned warbler on the bottom.  A few minutes ago I got a rare sight - I saw the orange crown!!  That is not common at all.  It was just a slight orange line on its head.
Other than that pretty orange line, it is a very nondescript warbler.

The obligatory cardinal photo in any winter picture collection.

Big Morning at the Farm Ponds

Trip to the farm ponds this morning.  We've not been out there much since getting our own farm.  It turned out to be a very good trip!

First, an immature hawk species.  I cannot tell the immature hawks apart.  This was either a red-tail or a red-shouldered.

And then this was at the edge of the ponds.  Looks like the heron is keeping guard over the mallards.

Buffleheads (female) on the lower pond.  One male was with several females, but he's not in this picture.

Then - we saw a large bird circling fairly far away, decided it was a vulture - until we spotted the white tail and head.  A mature bald eagle!!!  It decided to fly to a spot closer to us.  Still not great pics, but definitely enough to see what it was.

 Finally - something was in the snag at the top of a dead tree, where we usually say "Is that something?" and it turns out just to be the top of the snag.  Well, this time it was something.  A peregrine falcon.  A first for both of us.  The clincher was when it flew to get a dove for lunch.  Hugely powerful wingbeats, and FAST.  Classic for a peregrine.  This was also larger than a merlin, and much larger than a kestrel.  And the cheek patch fits a peregrine.  Great way to end the trip!

Farm Ponds 1/2/2020

Rainy morning - cold - but we went to see what was out there.  Beautiful male bufflehead with two females was about all that was interesting.

We did see two loons on Hartwell on the way out there.  I got this snapshot.  I almost think it was a red-throated (red does not show in the winter), but probably it was a common loon.