For The Birds

Some photos from a recent trip to a local lake.


An osprey in flight.

Possibly something in the flycatcher family.




A swallow.












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Have you written your abundance cheque yet?
The new moon was at 8:25 p.m. MDT last night. There's a 24 hour window to get it done.

Gratitude Monday - Summer Guests Edition

A tree swallow checks out potential new digs.

Spring is a wonderful time of year. Many of the birds we see in spring and summer have arrived for the season. Trees are a-twitter, the morning sun gets a cheerful greeting, and the world is alive.
A pair of tree swallows has nested close by every year since we moved in to the house in 1995. In past years they've checked out the bird condo out front and beaked around the bird box on our back porch.
Their call is happy and perks me up. Their colouring is beautiful and glints in the sun.
For the past few days the swallow couple has been coming to the box quite frequently. They might move in this year. I hope so and I'd been pleased if they did. I'd love to have them even though it's only for a short while.

Pretty Bird

We were treated to a visit by a male house finch recently. Most are quite skittish and won't stick around if they pick up any movement nearby. It made it quite a challenge to get good photos.
This feeder is right outside the kitchen window. We get several members of the finch family, blue jays, starlings, even a woodpecker now and again. Most stick around no matter what we do, but the house finches take off at the slightest provocation.
They come by fairly often now, so we see them all the time. They usually only stay a few seconds at a time.
Last week, for reasons known only to this fellow, he stuck around and let us take his picture.
We're glad he did.

In The Trees

A pine siskin waits in the clothes tree before going to the feeder.
An adult male goldfinch checks out his world.

A young evening grosbeak has a look around.

And a young white-throated sparrow has found some good cover.

We've been blessed with plenty of birds this year. It's down a bit from some years, but at least we can keep them fed without being run off our feet.
It's a pleasure to have them around to liven up the place and the young ones are usually okay with posing for a picture.

Smart as a Magpie

We’ve got several magpies around our yard this year. More than in past years and several of them are youngsters. They seem to like our yard and that’s fine.
They are loud. They have great squawking festivals at random times of the day. Although it can be grating it is ultimately a happy aural assault. It’s a sound of summer and it will be gone all too quickly.
I’ve also grown fond of the look of the feathers when the sun hits them just right. Most of the time they look black and white, but at certain angles the black is beautiful and iridescent.
They are a very pretty bird, and really rather smartly dressed.
I am glad I’ve had the chance to observe them because I’ve come to appreciate them and I like having them visit.

Scenes From The Feeders

Coming in.


Busy place.

Goldfinches took over the boat feeder.

Until the pine siskins found it.

The young birds are out and about and feeding now. The swarm feedings have started and will continue for a few more weeks, then they'll be gone for the winter.

Bird Day

A robin gazes off in the distance on a warm summer day.

As swallow surveys his domain.

A pair of ospreys sit on their nest.

While Sandhill Cranes search for food for their young.

And a female red-winged blackbird perches in the shade.

Feeding Time

At left, an osprey with a fish rests in a tree.

At right, another osprey sits on its nest.

Two adults were on the nest when we spotted it, but one left before my camera was ready.

It's possible the one that left the nest was the one we spotted with the fish.

Feeder Guests

It's unusual to see juncos at the feeders. We get them in the yard in spring and fall, but this is the first time they've gone for the sunflower seeds we put out.
The harsh wind and fresh, deep snow has likely covered up most of their regular food sources.
They were so intent on stuffing their beaks they ignored the camera.

Slinker

We've been adopted.

Slinker likes our yard. He commonly takes up residence under the canoe by the shed. It offers a lovely view of the pine siskins as they feed and provides shade and shelter for him.

I've no idea if he's a stray or someone's pet or even what his name is, if he has one bestowed by humans. He seems quite friendly, though, and makes every attempt to get a tummy rub.

I decided he ought to have a name and Slinker seemed to fit.