Quiz answers first! 

Thank you all for being patient, hope you had fun and did well!

5-2-22 Orange-crowned Warbler
 

1. Orange-crowned Warbler

5-4-22 Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers
 

2. Blue-winged Warbler, in front

3. Golden-winged Warbler, in back

5-3-22 FOY Magnolia Warbler, "tail dipped in ink"
 

4. Magnolia Warbler with "tail dipped in ink" which is diagnostic for this species

5-9-22 Blackburnian Warbler female
 

5. Blackburnian Warbler, female

5-11-22 Bay-breasted Warbler female
 

6. Bay-breasted Warbler, female

Now for the latest summer update...

6-10-22 Hairy Woodpeckers 6-12-22 Downy Woodpeckers

Nesters have been busy finding food for their fledglings. A Hairy Woodpecker teaches its young about suet and a Downy Woodpecker feeds hidden insect morsels to its offspring.

5-17-22 Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana)

5-17-22 Bumble Bee on Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana)
6-16-22 American Goldfinch female on Eastern Beebalm 6-16-22 American Goldfinch on Eastern Beebalm

American Goldfinches have been eating the seeds of Eastern Beebalm (Monarda bradburiana). It was in full bloom on 5-17-22. By not cutting back the spent blooms, the seeds feed the birds and help to enlarge the patch. This plant has done better here on a dry slope than anywhere else I've tried it. It attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators and also is a host plant to 9 different moth and butterfly species.

6-22-22 House Wren juvenile
6-16-22 Song Sparrow 6-18-22 Gray Catbird

From the young House Wren and Song Sparrow to larger birds like the Gray Catbird, traffic has been constant at our water features.

  6-20-22 Northern Parula 6-20-22 Northern Parula 6-21-22 Northern Parula female

Northern Parula warblers have been at the pond and bubbler on several days now. I've heard the male singing the last couple weeks and I think they nest in the neighborhood, possibly high in a neighbor's sycamore. The last few years, they've been coming in for food and water in June.

6-22-22 Brown Thrasher 6-22-22 Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrashers have been seen almost daily, foraging and looking for a drink or bath. 

6-22-22 Blue Jay 6-22-22 Blue Jay

6-20-22 American Robin 6-20-22 American Robins

Blue Jays and American Robins love to cool off, even if it means a confrontation to get their way.

6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher preening 6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher sunning
6-19-22 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher singing 6-21-22 Bubbler Bird #80 for 2022 - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have been heard and seen a lot lately. One day, I noticed the female preening and the male apparently taking a dust bath in the garden. It's a behavior we've seen in species like hummingbirds, titmice and flycatchers. The male then flew into another small tree and began singing. The following day, I just caught the female as it bathed in the bubbler. 

Interested in Adding Moving Water to your garden? Look at this page:

Simple Ways to Add Moving Water

If you'd like information about Bubbler Maintenance and more, check out this page:

All Water Feature Links

Stay cool...