Project FeederWatch Week 5

This week had 20 species at my feeders. The only ones that hadn't been on the list before were the American Robin that visited my birdbath and the Downy Woodpecker on my suet log. My bluebirds have found the new mealworm feeder I put up for them. The birdbath is very popular since it's the only water for quite a ways around. The American Goldfinches are holding steady with ten birds at the feeders. If they hold to the pattern over the past years, their numbers should begin increasing quickly at the feeders next week.

Project FeederWatch Week 5 (20 species):
Eurasian Collared Dove - 2
Mourning Dove - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 2
Carolina Wren - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Eastern Bluebird - 2
American Robin - 1
Brown Thrasher - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Pine Warbler - 3
Chipping Sparrow - 5
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
Northern Cardinal - 4
American Goldfinch - 10
House Sparrow - 22

I didn't have a lot of time to go birding around the property. There were a couple of American Crows that were around most of the time. Northern Flickers are still calling all over the place in the woods. There are now two American Pipits at the pond consistently. Eastern Phoebes are abundant in better numbers than I remember in a long time. The Yellow-rumped Warblers are still enjoying the bountiful crop of berries on the yaupons, bayberries and cedar trees. I did see one small flock of Cedar Waxwings last week for the first time this season. I'm toying with the idea of putting a ground feeder in the woods. I have a feeling it would just be a possum, squirrel and raccoon feeder, but maybe some birds could get to it when they're not around. I'll have to do some clearing to surround it with barbed wire to keep the cows out first. Winter is my second favorite season for birds around here because of the variety we get at the feeders.

Project FeederWatch Week 4

I had another good weekend for Project FeederWatch. I ended up with 19 species. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet is actually coming to the feeder now. The number of American Goldfinches rose this weekend. I saw a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos at the feeder. When I was a kid living at home, my feeder used to be covered with Dark-eyed Juncos every winter, but now I don't see that many. I saw more today while out birding on the property than I've seen in the seven years we've lived here.

Project FeederWatch Week 4 (19 species):
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Eurasian Collared Dove - 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 2
Carolina Wren - 1
House Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Brown Thrasher - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 15
Pine Warbler - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 8
White-throated Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 2
Northern Cardinal - 3
American Goldfinch - 6
House Sparrow - 30

I took a couple of hours this morning and went birding around the property. I went to my ground feeder to see what was showing up around there. The Yellow-rumped Warblers were everywhere! As I was watching the feeder, a Fox Sparrow hopped up in a little southern bayberry bush. He is a new property bird for me - #197! I got some great looks at him before he flew into the thick yaupon holly bush behind him. The Dark-eyed Juncos have shown up in good numbers. I counted at least 20 individuals today. I haven't seen that many since we moved here. I would see one or two most years, if I saw one at all. That was pretty exciting for me to see all of them. My BirdCam quit working, so Wingscapes is sending me a new one. I hope it gets here quickly so I can set it up on my ground feeder to get some shots of them. Hopefully the Fox Sparrow will find the feeder and be caught by the BirdCam. There were two American Pipits at the new pond today.

December 5 & 6 Property Birds (43 species): Snow Goose, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Crested Caracara, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow