Let's wrap up 2023!
It has certainly been a busy month in our neck of the woods. Like many, I could use a few extra hours each day! But, now here we are, at the end of another year. We have continued to enjoy birds in the garden, at our water features and at the feeders. Colder days increase activity!
12-2-23 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
12-2-23 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
12-2-23 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
An immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker bathed vigorously on 12-2-23. We'll hear it calling so it's still in the neighborhood.
12-3-23 Eastern Bluebirds
12-3-23 Eastern Bluebirds
Eastern Bluebirds also come in and bathe after cruising over the leaves for insects, or stopping at the feeders.
12-5-23 Pine Siskin
12-5-23 Pine Siskin
12-5-23 Pine Siskin
Pine Siskins are frequently heard in the trees and will visit the feeders some days. On 12-30-23, I counted seven of them.
12-17-23 American Goldfinches and Eurasian Tree Sparrows
Native birds like the American Goldfinches do not care for the Eurasian Tree Sparrows, as you can see by the interaction of the birds on the upper right. Word spreads quickly between these sparrows when a feeder is filled, and then 20 or more will come in.
12-19-23 Brown Creeper
The diminutive Brown Creeper is a regular each day, searching the bark of trees for tiny eggs and larvae, and it will eat a bit of bark butter when available.
12-20-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet has been coming in and taking a bit of suet. It's considered rare in December, usually wintering a bit further south. I have had them in winter before. This suet contained berries, which may have enticed the bird.
12-24-23 Cooper's Hawk
12-24-23 Cooper's Hawk
12-24-23 Cooper's Hawk
12-24-23 Cooper's Hawk, resting 3 hours
All the birds head for cover when a Cooper's hawk cruises through. This bird appeared to have finished a meal, still working some bits down its craw while luxuriating in a bath in the stream bed. It flew up to the adjacent Sugar Maple, and stayed over three hours on Christmas Eve. Two days later, we saw it take a Mourning Dove.
12-25-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12-25-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12-25-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
12-31-23 Ruby-crowned Kinglet
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet was back on a misty Christmas Day, having its own special meal! We saw it again today, first at the suet and then investigating all the goodies on the Grab 'n Go table. It even took a bit of bark butter from Rudy. Click on the link to hear its "je-ditt" call here:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet captured on my Haikubox
12-31-23 Downy Woodpecker
This Downy Woodpecker was one of many visitors at the Grab 'n Go table today.
12-31-23 Aemrican Robins
12-31-23 Eastern Bluebird female
An influx of about 30 American Robins signaled some movement of birds into the area. A Red-winged Blackbird was also seen before this female Eastern Bluebird took a bath.
12-31-23 European Starling
An European Starling came in, checking feeders and the water. It may be a scout, like the Red-winged. We'll see what the New Year brings.
12-31-23 Yellow-rumped Warbler
A Yellow-rumped Warbler also came in with the crowd, wary of the possibility of a Cooper's hawk.
12-31-23 Mourning Dove at rest
It's time to reflect on the past year while we rest up for the new one, like this Mourning Dove. Overall, it has been a very good one for counting yard birds here, a new personal best with 121 species of Yard birds and 94 Bubbler birds. I missed a few warblers, but did have 28. All good!
May all of you enjoy more time in Nature, listening for Ruby-crowned Kinglets, American Robins, and more.
Happy New Year!