More August gems

Brittney was out back with the camera, came in with some pics and asked us what this one was:

Well, we are fairly certain it's a female Indigo Bunting! This is our first time seeing a female and definitely our first picture of it. Nice one B!!


She also got some great shots of a pair of Downey Woodpeckers working their way up the blackberry lattice in the back garden (we usually don't see these guys out back very often) and in and around the vegetable gardens.



We had an all time high August Baltimore Oriole count of 5! They were at the orange and grape jelly feeders. Usually one orange (cut in half) will last us a few days, but they have been going through an entire orange every day for the last few days. Last year we only saw these Orioles for a short time and they were gone, so it's exciting to know that they must have nested nearby and are still around.

Hawk-watch 09

The hawk continues to patrol the feeders. On Thursday, we saw him on the poles nearby the house.
On Friday, we saw him out front again. He swooped down by the lilac shrubs (where the house sparrows tend to congregate) and had a meal. Dave walked out along the fence an got some pics.





Later on Friday, we saw him on the back fence.



On Sunday, he was back again. We saw him in the front yard, in the tree behind the house and even standing up on the nesting box in the backyard while Brit, Lola and I were just a few feet away. He watched us for about a minute and then took off (before B was able to get a shot of him so close to us). It's been pretty cool to see him around so much and so close.

Juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk

Brittney and my brother saw this hawk hanging around the front yard this morning. He got close up and was waiting for activity at the feeders to resume. Before he had the chance to get some lunch, he was mobbed by a group of Blue Jays. They chased him out of the yard and he went across the road into a neighbour's tree. We lost sight of him after that. Hopefully he'll get a chance to eat soon, although I'm glad he didn't get one of our regulars. Here are some wonderful shots taken by B and my brother:

August happenings

Brittney took this shot of two mourning doves. Great symmetry!


Well, there hasn't been too much happening. There have been no new birds or new birds for this year yet. In another month or so, when fall migration starts we should have some changes in the regulars at the feeders. The black birds are beginning to flock together and showing up in bigger numbers at the feeders. These are mixed groups of grackles, cowbirds, red winged blackbirds and starlings. They get noisier and noisier and will start to take over the yard in the hundreds soon enough.




We have seen one RoseBreasted Grosbeak in early August. It was either a female or a juvenile and we just saw it the one day at the feeder and that's been it for those guys.

The hummingbirds are still around and we have seen 2 females and 2 males at one time.

The Baltimore Orioles are at the tray feeder every day, eating the grape jelly and oranges. On Sunday we saw three of them.



We finally saw a hairy woodpecker for the first time in quite awhile too. No further sighthings of any of the red-bellied woodpeckers.

Chickadees are back around too after laying low for awhile.
And the house wrens are still hanging around too.

Screech Owls

Would love to see one of these!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/679810

Family of Flickers

Last weekend, we saw four flickers in the front yard. This is the most we've seen at one time and the first time we've seen a family group with babies. Very exciting! They are cavity nesters and could use a nesting box (we have one specifically for them that they continue to ignore).



Early last week the house wrens left the nest. Over this weekend we saw two in the front yard near the brush pile (that we have set up on purpose to give cover for the birds- it's also given cover to chipmunks from Arthur and Lola on more than one occasion).

We have not seen any Grosbeaks the last few days. I think they may have finally moved on. They did not stay this late last year and this year was the first that we had seen so many pairs with their babies. If they've moved on for good, we'll see them again next March/April. Good luck guys!

We have seen a few juvenile Redwing Blackbirds:




and the Baltimore Oriole continues to visit the tray feeder and enjoy the grape jelly every day (we see an adult male and a juvenile on a regular basis):



The hummingbirds continue to frequent the feeders. They'll probably be around until some time in Sept, depending on the weather. These pics were all taken by my niece.