Project FeederWatch Week 3

The number of species at the feeders and birdbath increased quite a bit over the past two days. I've seen 19 species. The rules of Project FeederWatch say that if you put something out in your yard for the birds (i.e. feeders, bird bath, brush pile) and the birds use it, you count them. Several of the birds have used only the bird bath because they have very little interest in the feeders.

Project FeederWatch Week 3 (19 species):
Eurasian Collared Dove - 5
White-winged Dove - 1
Mourning Dove - 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1
Blue Jay - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 4
Tufted Titmouse - 2
Carolina Wren - 1
House Wren - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1
Eastern Bluebird - 2
Brown Thrasher - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 12
Pine Warbler - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 8
White-throated Sparrow - 1
Northern Cardinal - 4
American Goldfinch - 1
House Sparrow - 20

Other than feeder birds, this weekend was great around the property. The American Goldfinch was the first one to visit my feeder. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet found the birdbath, as did the Yellow-rumped Warblers (in the picture). I may bring my BirdCam from the woods to get some shots of them bathing. The Yellow-rumped Warblers were literally covering the hackberry tree in my backyard eating the berries it produces. While walking in the woods on Sunday afternoon, I saw my FOS Snow Geese, Ross's Goose, Sandhill Crane, American Pipit and Field Sparrow. The geese and cranes were flying overhead. The pipit was near the new pond. The Field Sparrow was in some thick weeds along the gully. Both Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls are calling in the woods. An American Woodcock flushed from right beside me as I walked on the trail in the woods. I watched where he put down and got some really great looks at him walking around probing for insects in the ground.



Property Birds Nov. 28 & 29 (45 species):
Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, American White Pelican, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, American Woodcock, Eurasian Collared-Dove, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, American Pipit, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow

Saturday, April 25

Saturday was windy still, but there were several migrants still around. I guess the deluge we had Friday night was enough to keep them grounded into Saturday morning. The gully that runs through our property was as high as I've ever seen it. It was way out of its banks in several places.

I entered the woods in one of the most productive spots and it was the most productive again. I added three FOS birds there - Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler and Canada Warbler. There were a couple of Ovenbirds around. A Kentucky Warbler and a Hooded Warbler were singing on territory. A Chestnut-sided Warbler chattered as he looked in the leaves for some caterpillars. When I got down to the new pond, a Dickcissel flew in and called from some of the trees that were knocked down during the hurricane. That's only the second time I've ever seen a Dickcissel on the property, although I know they migrate through here. I've got good breeding habitat for them.

Speaking of breeding, the bluebird eggs haven't hatched yet. I checked them today and they are still unhatched. They should hatch in the next couple of days. The Purple Martins have begun putting nesting material in the gourd. Hopefully it won't be long they lay eggs. I observed the female plucking feathers from her brooding patch on Saturday.

Bird species seen 4/25/09 (39 species): Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Laughing Gull, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Purple Martin, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Tennessee Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler (FOS), Blackpoll Warbler (FOS), Black-and-white Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Canada Warbler (FOS), Yellow-breasted Chat, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Dickcissel (FOS), Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird

Slow Day In The Woods But Two FOS Birds At The House

I went out birding this afternoon in the wake of a cold front that moved through. Relatively light north winds were blowing, so I thought today might be a pretty good day. I could not have been more wrong. Nothing was moving down in the woods. Nothing was singing. Nothing was flying. It was as quiet as I've ever seen it down there. So, I came up to the house, built a fire in the chiminea and sat outside. I saw more sitting outside the house than I did in the woods. There were two FOS birds that showed up while I was out there - Mississippi Kite and Chimney Swift.

The bluebirds are building their nest! I was getting concerned about them. I'm hoping that with them starting a little later, maybe they'll have a higher percentage of eggs that hatch. It looks like they're probably at least a week or so away from laying eggs. The male bluebird also flies over to the box in my yard and sings quite a bit. I wonder if he's making sure that no more bluebirds nest in it, or if he has another female that he wants to use the box.

Birds seen on March 31, 2009 (19 species): Cattle Egret, Turkey Vulture, Mississippi Kite (FOS), Eurasian Collard-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Chimney Swift (FOS), Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird

The Day of the Northern Parula

Spring migrants were all over the place today! It was quite exciting in the woods. I got several FOS birds for the property. One thing that was very noticeable was the number of Northern Parulas. I probably heard ten individual males singing. I saw a couple of females with males chasing them around. One time I stopped to watch a couple of the Northern Parulas in the trees and a male Hooded Warbler hopped up in a tree not too far from me. He stayed in full view for a long time. Then the birds really started showing up! In the half-hour I stood in that spot, a Black-and-white Warbler showed up, followed closely by a Yellow-throated Warbler. I could see something moving in the understory, so I moved forward and found a Kentucky Warbler and Common Yellowthroat. A Summer Tanager began singing behind me high in a post oak. Just after the tanager began singing, a Red-eyed Vireo flew into view and began singing too. A couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds flew overhead. I was in a pretty open area where a tree fell during the hurricane and could see Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows and Northern Rough-winged Swallows flying overhead along with the Purple Martins. A Great Crested Flycatcher flew in and showed off why he is called a fly catcher.

One thing that concerns me is the bluebirds. There is no nest started (they had eggs in the nest last year at this time.) I see the male over there pretty regularly, but haven't seen the female in a while. I hope nothing happened to her.

Birds seen 3/27/09 (41 species): Great Egret, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Crested Caracara, Upland Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (FOS), Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher (FOS), White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo (FOS), Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler (FOS), Black-and-white Warbler (FOS), Kentucky Warbler (FOS), Common Yellowthroat (FOS), Hooded Warbler (FOS), Summer Tanager (FOS), Field Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, House Sparrow

FOS Northern Parula

This morning while I was getting dressed for work, I heard a Northern Parula singing in the trees to the east of my house. I found him in the top of a large hackberry tree singing his heart out! They are usually the first springtime warbler I see on our property. There are two large trees laden with Spanish moss they nest in. The parulas are usually followed pretty closely by Hooded Warblers and Black-and-white Warblers, so I'll be watching for them soon. This is the earliest by four days that I've seen a Northern Parula on the property.

Wet! Wet! Wet!

After nearly 4 inches of rain since Monday, I put on my rubber boots and went out into the woods this morning. As I was walking toward the woods, two Barn Swallows made their first appearance on my list this spring. I made my way to one of the trees where the Northern Parulas nested in the past. As I walked through the standing water, mosquitoes were flying low over the surface. I sure hope it dries before the eggs have a chance to hatch! I got to the tree and stood around for quite a while listening for the Northern Parula to call. I finally decided that there wasn't one around and began to walk off. I had taken no more than five steps when I heard that rising buzz! I was not able to visually locate him, though. I walked on and came to the second tree where the Northern Parulas usually are. I heard a warbler-like call that I wasn't completely familiar with. I finally found the caller - another Northern Parula! As I was walking out of the woods, I heard another warbler-like call, which ended up being another Northern Parula. While I was searching for that parula, a male Hooded Warbler popped up in front of me! After I lost visual contact with the Hooded Warbler, a Gray Catbird began hopping around in the tangle of tri-foliate orange trees. He is probably a winter resident here rather than a spring migrant. Spring is definitely coming!

Winter birds still rule the day. Along with all the regulars, I had a pair of Field Sparrows along the fence in the backyard. An Orange-crowned Warbler was quite active around my favorite yaupon holly thicket. His feathers around his face must still be coming in because his head was bald! There were literally hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers on a feeding frenzy. They were flitting through the tops of the trees very quickly. I looked at as many as I could hoping to see something different. I suppose they are getting ready for their northward migration.

I added a new bird to my property list this morning! A Caspian Tern flew over and will forever be property bird #172. I tallied 31 species this morning in a couple of hours of birding.

FOS Species: Barn Swallow, Northern Parula, Hooded Warbler, Gray Catbird

Other wildlife seen:

Reptiles: Common Garter Snake

Mammals: Gray Squirrel

Butterflies: Buckeye