Sections of Lake Superior shores are needing to be clean up after yesterday storm which had big waves crashing in from the strong winds. Today people were surveying the damage and even these birds were checking out the new debris which the waves washed up on shore now that the lake has quieted down.
Surveying the Storm
This owl must have heard about all the food at the state fair on a stick as it seemed to be licking bugs off the car antenna like it was “bugs on a stick” treat. This was before it started a staredown with me and I think the owl cheated and turned its head when it was going to blink.
Great Horned Owl
Watch the owl enjoy bugs on a stick and staredown match.
Another sign that summer is over beside school starting, is the disappearance of some birds, like the house wren and orioles. So there will be no splash of bright orange feathers on my porch until next year when the orioles come back in the spring and find my feeders again.
Orioles Gone
There seems to be a sibling (and cousin) fight going on at my hummingbird feeder. I have witnessed mid-air body slams occurring between the little ruby-throated hummingbirds. It seems like they have no patience and they can’t take turns drinking at the feeder but I suppose they figure I might forget to fill it and they won’t get any. But next month they will be heading south and gone again until next spring.
Hummingbird Feeder Fight
Watch the hummingbirds fight for the spots on the feeder.
The trees this evening were filled with crying sounds. Baby orioles have left the nest and were hopping around in the branches waiting for their parents to bring them some food and most were not very patient or quiet. This young oriole is a bit fuzzy looking but most of the young birds looked about the size and coloring of the adult females already although only a few have come to the feeders as it is easier to let the parents bring the food to them.
Young Baltimore Oriole
The goldfinches stay around all year, but it is always nice to see the bright yellow color returning on the males during the summer instead of their dull winter feathers. Goldfinches breed later in the season than most in area to insure plants like thistles, produce seeds and nest building materials.
Colorful Goldfinch
During the cold, wet raining day yesterday, my porch railing was filled with orioles trying to get out of the rain as they kept visiting the feeders. But among all the orange color of the orioles, there was a brilliant red bird too. He was a soggy but colorful bird and at times would look at me like it was my fault it was raining. The Scarlet Tanager forages mostly in tall trees for insects as well as nesting 20-30 feet above ground, so normally you only catch a glimpse of color high in the trees so it was unusual to see one perched on my porch.
Soggy Scarlet Tanager
The barns at the farm are filled with multiple batches of kittens, but it sounded like I had kittens in my yard too with the arrival of Gray Catbirds. One of their common call is a like a lost kitten mewing, but their long song may last for up to 10 minutes which may mimic other birds as well as mechanical and musical notes and phrases. The catbird singing by my porch this evening almost sounded like it was saying “pretty bird” even though not a colorful bird.
Noisy Gray Catbird
The bluebird enjoyed a few hours of sunshine before the rain came in the afternoon. But while the sun was out, the song of the late returning House Wren was mixed in with all the other birds relishing the sunny day.
Sunny Bluebird
Another sunny day brought several more returning birds to the area including hummingbirds and orioles. And I wasn’t ready for them so the oriole let me know his feeders weren’t hung up yet. But the male oriole didn’t leave and he found the feeder after a while so maybe he forgave my tardiness.
Baltimore Oriole Back
