Hummingbird Visit

Today I visited the Wild Bird Center I discovered a few days ago. I was staying at a local hotel to attend a 3-day meeting, and one night we had a company outing at a billiards joint. In the process of finding the place, I came across the Wild Birds store. I had been looking online and never came across it.

So I stopped in today becuase I’d been needing to buy peanuts for the balcony birds, and because I haven’t perused a bird store in ages. They had a help-wanted sign up, and I asked about the part-time hours. Unfortunately they want someone to fill in anytime, so my 8-5 job wouldn’t suit their needs.

I got my peanuts and picked up a little hummingbird feeder. I’ve been thinking of getting one, having seen a couple of hummingbirds do a fly-by once or twice. In fact, last weekend when we were sitting on the balcony, one came by and sat on the wire right by the house.

So today I filled the feeder and put it out. Around 7:00 pm I was sitting out there thinking how cool it would be if a hummingbird came by and right then, one obliged and not only checked out the petunias and the new feeder, but perched on my new mini-trellis I put in to prop up the extra-tall petunias.

Obviously, being the east coast, it’s a ruby-throated hummingbird, and I’m quite sure it was female, but just read that it could be a juvenile male. I’m sure I’ll get a chance at a good look again soon.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Visit

I was sitting on the balcony in late June–I did not note the exact date since I knew this wasn’t a life list addition for me–when I noticed a large bird through the trees. Reminding myself that most of the time, things turn out to be ordinary, I thought it was only a crow. No, its shape was different. I finally noticed by its movement that it had something in its talons and at that point I realized it was indeed a hawk.

But definitely not a red-tail, and that’s all I can tell without binoculars and bird book in hand. Hawks are not my strong suit, in fact, I rarely bother to try to identify them unless there’s something truly outstanding about it. In this case, it was just such a great view, even though it was through the leaves.

I didn’t think it would, but it stayed while I fetched my binoculars. Since it remained, I decided to try to fetch my bird book. It stayed, so I sat down to watch and went back and forth to the book. That hawk was very acommodating! He turned in a full circle as he plucked the feathers from his prey (some small bird, I like to think it was not one of mine!).

So I was able to identify it clearly as a sharp-shinned hawk. And if there’d been any doubt, he had the courtesy to then fly right over me, still clutching his dinner. Although I cringed a bit, becuase if he’d dropped the bird, it would have landed on me (we’re on the 4th floor, so when he flew, I mean it was directly overhead–and close!), I still got a first-hand look at him flying.

If only they were all so acommodating.

An additional note – the Carolina wren is back, and I have been on various sites trying to finally establish that it is indeed a Carolina wren, beyond “I just know.” It is — its white eye stripe and size don’t match up with the house wren. I can’t get the sound file from Cornell to play on my computer, but I’ll work on that. Its song, the “teakettle, teakettle, teakettle,” should clinch it.

Bird drama I

Sunday morning in June, 6:30 am, watching the early birds get the peanuts on my balcony. Sparrows only at this hour; they tend to eat on the balcony rather than do “take out” like everyone else. One little sparrow, however, seems to have something wrong with her beak.

Awakening to summer

So it’s been since February since I’ve posted. The springtime wasn’t too great here — except for our trip to Italy in April!  — so maybe I just neede the warm weather to get moving again.

Winter drags

I am so ready for spring. I was in Florida for a few days and the 80-degree weather was wonderful, but made me even more anxious for winter to end.

A new visitor

Just when I think things have settled down and I think I know who’s going to visit, someone new shows up.

Another year of visitors

Things have been pretty consistent out on the balcony, with the sparrow family taking over for the most part, and the tufted titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches, along with the occasional downy showing up.

Heading into winter

We had such warm nice weather up until November, that all my plants on the balcony remained until then. I brought a few inside that I will keep over the winter – the dwarf alberta spruce, rosemary, oregano, and juniper bonsai – but otherwise they all remained looking happy and healthy outside.

Rare hummingbird spotted in Wisconsin – Yahoo! News

Rare hummingbird spotted in Wisconsin – Yahoo! News

Bird food and rats

I got my community newsletter today, and there’s an article in it announcing that rats have been seen in a few areas around our community; mostly dumpsters and areas like that.

But also they cited people feeding birds.