My Backyard Update

Things have been quite busy lately and noisy too. Yesterday I saw my Red-shafted Flickers bring in their two babies to feed on the suet. They look so funny trying to figure out how exactly to hang on to the tail prop suet feeder. The Blue Jays are bringing their babies in to feed on the peanut splits. You can easily tell when they show up because the babies haven't found their "voice" yet and squawk loudly. The same goes for the Flicker fledglings. The little house Finches are showing their babies how to land on the bird bath on our deck railing. They flutter around until they decide that they can land on the edge or the rock in the middle. The Lesser Goldfinches are teaching their little ones to hang on the long nyjer thistle sock. Most of the baby Robins are starting to loose their spots and have learned where the raisins are and carry on to let me know when the raisins are gone. On last Wednesday my husband called me to the kitchen window to see a chipmunk checking out our deck. We live near Kipling and Bowles and were wondering how the little guy came to our area. Are they finding their way into residential areas or did he just hitch hike down from the mountains via some one's trailer? Has anybody else seen chipmunks this close to town? Anyway I love this time of year and seeing all our new little residents.

My Very 1st House Wren

On Thursday, May 28th I was out refilling my ground feeder for the Mourning Doves, when a little House Wren hopped off the feeder and went behind a small storage unit, tail straight up and all! I went back indoors as I didn't want to frighten him away. I was so excited to finally have a little Wren at my feeder! Maybe he will eventually use the Bronco wren house I bought for my husband at our Open House here at the store last year. I've got my fingers crossed!

April Snowstorm

It's spring at Shannon's house, but I'm still in awe of what the end of winter (hopefully) brought to my house. We just has a large storm, which brought snow, rain and thunderstorms. After shoveling for the first time, I filled up my feeders and put some extra ones out. The number and variety of birds I got was amazing! Here is a list of what I saw during the two days of the storm.

Pine Siskins - large flocks, first time I've ever had them
American Goldfinches - bright yellow for spring
House Finches - ever present at my house
Western Meadowlark - under the feeder picking at sunflower seeds
Dark-eyed Junco - I saw one, but there could have been more
Red-winged Blackbirds - males still wearing their winter coats
Doves - two flew over, don't know if they were Mourning or Eurasian Collared
American Robin - one sat on my fence
American Crow - also on the fence

I feed 100% Black Oil Sunflower. I had a hopper style feeder, a caged tube feeder, and a metal mesh No/No Feeder. I loved the madness of all the birds, but I'm also happy the snow is melting now! Sara

They're Here!

It's beautiful today. A little while ago I was out on my deck cutting up some string into little pieces for nesting material, when I saw a male Goldfinch at my sunflower chip feeder. I thought I heard another little finch when I spied a female Lesser Goldfinch in the neighbors crab apple tree. I sat down on the steps and waited. While sitting there I saw no less than four pairs of Lesser Gold Finches coming to my feeder. What a joy to see! Now I know Spring is officially here! And while watching the finches a pair of Downy Woodpeckers came to my feeder as well.

My Backyard

This winter has been terrific for viewing birds in my backyard. I've had everthing from Flickers, Red and White breasted Nuthatches, Chickadees, Sparrows. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Juncos, Blue Jays, Robins, and of course all kinds of Finches. I can finally pick out the difference between the House Finches and Gold Finches. There has been a male Finch that is orange instead of the usual pinkish red ones that you normally see. He is just as orange as a pumpkin! I thought that maybe I had a new Finch! After doing some research, I found out that this guy is just a variation of the House Finch that can even have a yellowish tint to to them. I've been trying to get a photo of him, but either I've got the camera and don't see him come or he's there and I can't get to the camera fast enough. As soon as can get a picture of him I will post it. Wish me luck!

Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers

Just a quick pic I snapped at my parent's house in Pennsylvania. A Hairy Woodpecker is the larger bird on the left, and the smaller bird on the right is a Downy Woodpecker. As you can see, the two species are almost identical except for the size. My mom came up with an easy way to remember it though. Downys are Diminutive, and Hairys are Huge. Hope that helps you remember, and have a happy new year!

South African Birding (continued)

Birding Kruger Park!


This is the 3rd posting of pictures of our birding trip to South Africa with Nestling Tours and Avian Leisure. Included here are photos from traveling through the regions known as the Tanqua Karoo, the Langeberg Mountains, the west coast, the Agulhas Plain, the Grootvadersbosch Forest, the Gargen Route, and the famous Kruger Park.


Pictures here are a few of 348 species we observed and photographed, many of which are endemic. My traveling companion Bill Eden and I found pristine bio diverse environments rich in bird, insect, floral, and the highly sought after "big five mammals." We were fortunate to see African Elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Rinos, Lions, and Cheetas. We did miss out on the Leopard. Maybe next time.



All posted pictures taken with a Leica V Lux 1 camera.






















Yellow-Billed Stork catches a fish. Just as I pressed the shudder.















Stripped Kingfisher in Kruger Park













Spotted Thick-Knee














Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill
































Southern Masked Weaver




























Secretarybird



Scarlet-Chested Sunbird

Long-Crested Eagle

Lilac-Breasted Roller

Knysna Turaco

Black-Bellied Bustard (Korhaan)

Blue Crane (the National Bird)

African Pygmy Kingfisher

African Jacana

African Green Pigeon

African Hoopoe