Tweet and See: May 2011

It's been a busy, busy month at the feeders! Lots of new species!

We were excited to see a pair of wood ducks this month! They're quite unique and interesting! We LOVE the coloration and patterns on the male!

Male Wood Duck

Female Wood Duck

J and I saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the end of our road and then later at our feeders. And C saw a Downy Woodpecker on the neighbor's tree while riding her bike. 2 of these woodpeckers stopped by the feeders the next day.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak  Photo by www.guatemalabirding.com/
birdphotos
cardinals.htm

Downy Woodpecker Photo by commons.wikimedia.org/
wiki
File:Down...emale.jpg

And we flocked - Yes! I couldn't help the word play! LOL - to the bay window to see our first ever Baltimore Oriole and American Goldfinch! Their beautiful yellow colors showed up brilliantly with the evergreen background.

American Goldfinch

Baltimore Oriole

We had 3 new migratory species come to the feeders in one evening: White-crowned Sparrow, Eastern Towhee and Brown-headed Cowbird. Interestingly, the Brown-headed Cowbird is the only "parasitic" bird in Maine, laying its eggs in host bird' nests to raise its young.

White-crowned Sparrow Photo by Al Lemieux

Eastern Towhee Photo by Robert Hawkins

Brown-headed Cowbird Photo by Herb Amyx

On a rainy afternoon we observed a large Turkey Vulture eating in our neighbor's yard. Wow, do they have a LONG wingspan! (Our books says up to 6'!)  And a Common Grackle stopped at our feeders the same day.

Turkey Vulture Photo by Raul Quinones

Common Grackle Photo by Terry Sohl

A Robin is sitting on eggs in a tree near the wooden playset. We're watching for blue eggs on the ground underneath.

May 2011 
Wood Duck*

Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
White-crowned Sparrow*
Eastern Towhee*
Brown-headed Cowbird*
Red-winged Blackbird
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-breasted Grosbeak*
Downy Woodpecker*
Baltimore Oriole*
American Goldfinch*
America Robin
Mourning Dove
Common Grackle*
Turkey Vulture*

 Master List
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Black-capped Chickadee 
Common Eider+
American Crow+
American Goldfinch
Baltimore Oriole
Pileated Woodpecker+
Bald Eagle+
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
Red-breasted Grosbeak
Common Redpoll
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
American Crow+
Wild Turkey
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Common Grackle
Turkey Vulture
Gray Jay
Canada Goose+
Great Blue Heron+
Mallard
Herring Gull+
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Ruffed Grouse
Wood Duck

Summer is such a busy time for us, so this is our last Tweet and See until September when we'll have our summer list! 


*denotes new species this month

+denotes saw in an area NOT in our backyard

Tweet and See: April 2011

We've created QUITE a bird sanctuary here! Driving down our dirt road lined with evergreens, you can often see SWARMS of birds flying around our house.  And their different sounds fill the air and mix with the Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs that are out now.


We had TONS of Dark-eyed Juncos, both male and female, visiting our feeders this month. Our trees, lawn and driveway would be scattered with them! 

Dark-eyed Junco - Photo Credit www.indiana.edu

A pair of mallards, swimming in from our flooded backyard from next door, visiting almost daily to eat seed and corn fallen to the ground from the squirrels and birds. We found it interesting that one would crane it's neck, watching, while the other ate, and then they would switch.

We were VERY excited to see female Red-winged Blackbirds flying around and eating from the feeders. And there are BABIES! The fledglings are just a little bigger than the Juncos, with striped heads and brown-and-white bodies.

Female Red-winged Blackbird - Photo Credit NJM 2010

Male Red-winged Blackbird - Photo Credit Jim Fenton

We're now up to 5 Mourning Doves. Oftentimes we can see them roosting on the branches of our crab apple or cherry trees near the feeders, fluffed in the chill. I believe there are 4 females and 1 male.

Mourning Dove - Photo Credit www.naturepicsonline.com

We've been hearing woodpeckers, but haven't seen any to identify. 

We had 2 male purple finches visit the feeders at the end of the month. Their bright red color is easy to see in the dark green evergreens.

Male Purple Finch - Photo Credit by www.myphotoclub.com

April 2011

Red-winged Blackbird

Northern Cardinal

Mourning Dove

Dark-eyed Junco
Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee
Rusty Blackbird*

Common Eider*+
Pine Siskin* 
American Crow*+ 
Mallard 
Purple Finch*
America Robin

Donald and Daisy Mallard Visiting Our Feeders

Master List
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Black-capped Chickadee 
Common Eider+
American Crow+
Pileated Woodpecker+
Bald Eagle+
Blue Jay
Common Redpoll
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
American Crow+
Wild Turkey
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Gray Jay
Canada Goose+
Great Blue Heron+
Mallard
Herring Gull+
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Ruffed Grouse


*denotes new species this month

+denotes saw in an area NOT in our backyard

Tweet and See: March 2011

March 2011

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Dark-eyed Junco

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Red-wing Blackbird*
Common Redpoll*
American Robin* 
Mallard Duck*

Red-wing Blackbird - Migrator from Canada

Dark-eyed Male Juncos Ground Feeding

Master List
Red-winged Blackbird
Black-capped Chickadee
American Crow
Pileated Woodpecker
Bald Eagle
Blue Jay
Common Redpoll
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
Wild Turkey
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
Gray Jay
Canada Goose
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Herring Gull
American Goldfinch
American Robin


*denotes new species this month

Tweet and See - January's Backyard Birds

I'm joining up with Heather at Kingdom Arrows to share our Running List of Backyard Birds with other bloggers each month. Our lists will ONLY be birds that we see in our own yard as we're experimenting with different suets and seeds to see what non-migrating birds we attract this winter.

Black-capped Chickadee

 Location: western Maine

Altitude: Uncertain

Our Yard: located at the bottom of a 1000 ft mountain with many small brooks, including one that runs our property line, and a pond, MANY evergreens, some broadleafs, and a marsh in our backyard

And here's our list for January:

• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Tufted Titmouse
• Northern Cardinal
• Mourning Dove

Our Favorite Bird Field Guide

Join in! Click on the Tweet and See button for more information and see who else is creating their own lists throughout the United States. And don't forgot The Great Backyard Bird Count coming on February 18-21!