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Post by gardendmpls on Jun 11, 2023 15:55:08 GMT -5
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Post by binnylou on Jun 15, 2023 17:08:25 GMT -5
We have a lot of visitors to our deck, and hubby does encourage them. About the time when the Orioles would be arriving, he stocked up on oranges and grape jelly. We’ve discovered that it isn’t just orioles who likes oranges and jelly. House finches and cardinals share beak kisses at the orange feeding station. When the suet feeder went empty, the Downy, Hairy, and Yellow Shafted Flickers left the area. The Red Bellied woodpeckers have stayed to enjoy the buffet…now they are bringing the kids.
This morning, hubby was watching a male Red Bellied at the orange. A little face appeared just above the edge of the deck rail…a fledgling looking to be fed. He flies really well, but wants to be fed. And he does like the orange with jelly. We’ve seen them several times today, and they are back again right now.
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Post by breezygardener on Jun 16, 2023 12:49:05 GMT -5
The Choke cherry trees' berries are just beginning to ripen. I have never had a shrub or tree that attracts more birds than these.
Cardinals, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Pileated woodpeckers, Bluebirds, crows, whole flocks of Cedar waxwings, even squirrels - the list of wildlife that love these small bitter berries is seemingly endless on some days.
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Post by breezygardener on Jun 21, 2023 10:58:36 GMT -5
Mr. Wren strikes again!!
So Sunday evening I'm sitting out on the deck with a nice glass of Chablis, & watching the antics of one of our nest-building maniac Carolina wrens. In the 20 minutes I was sitting there, I watched the bird go underneath the front of our pickup truck at least TEN times.
Called Mr. Breezy out & together we investigated underneath the truck & through the open hood. At first we didn't see anything, but then I noticed a tiny tuft of grass, & so gently reached under the front bumper directly behind the running light & pulled out a fist-sized handful of mixed grasses & green mosses. Luckily not quite a complete nest, but definitely on its way. Mr. Breezy leaned a large piece of packing styrofoam up against the front of the truck as a (ha ha) possible deterrent.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Breezy was just about to leave for a trip to the dump/recycling center when I reminded him to check inside that bumper again. Yup - another larger-than-fist-size bunch of moss & grasses. So now it looks like we'll have to check that bumper daily to avoid ending up not being able to use our truck for being in the "family way".
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 21, 2023 15:11:24 GMT -5
Crows!!! The birdbath this morning was a stinky mess. Toad parts, squirrel parts all soaking nicely for the baby crows. I proceeded to scoop it all out and scrubbed it with Dawn dishsoap. A check this afternoon shows no more "deposits". Maybe they will figure out it's not a good place.
I heard a bird I don't recall ever hearing. Then saw the bird. It's a cat bird. A nice melody and I have heard the "cat" sound too.
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Post by binnylou on Jun 21, 2023 19:59:11 GMT -5
What we hear from the catbird I wouldn’t describe as melody. The local catbirds just offer nonstop chatter…the sounds of about 25 birds all coming from one bird. During midafternoon, the chatter is coming from the windbreak next to the flower garden. Early evening, you’ll hear the chatter down by the veggie garden. I sometimes wonder if he’s there because we are in the garden. Maybe he likes us.
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Post by gardendmpls on Jun 21, 2023 20:44:26 GMT -5
Catbirds are funny. In a previous garden, I had one show up every time I was digging. Would rush in to pluck worms and grubs right by my feet. When I went outside, he would fly over to chat, most probably asking when I would bring out the shovel so he could have his snack.
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Post by binnylou on Jun 26, 2023 9:41:31 GMT -5
There has been increased wren traffic on or near our deck, but we don’t see them on the water bowl. The “music” is loud.
We have a “never inhabited “ wren house mounted beneath the deck flooring. It’s a nice location with protection from stormy weather, but the wrens have never used I. I thought it was Kitty’s presence that kept them away, but she’s been gone a couple of nest building seasons, so that’s not the answer.
Not far…maybe 5 feet…away from the wren house hangs a garden hose on one of the deck supports. And in the center of that hose support is where the wren has chosen to build his nest. Clothesline is beneath the deck. I’ll continue hanging hubby’s britches by the legs with pockets down.
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Post by datgirl on Jun 26, 2023 12:45:11 GMT -5
I noticed over the weekend that there is a wren nest in the boat trailer in the driveway.
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Post by Mumsey on Jun 26, 2023 17:29:13 GMT -5
That pesky crow must have given up since I left the birdbath empty the other day. Rain filled it, but crow hasn't returned.
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Post by binnylou on Jun 28, 2023 9:57:12 GMT -5
“Baby” Red-Bellied woodpecker has learned to hang upside down from the wooden platform that holds the orange. With just an open beak showing from below the orange, Dad can make food delivery faster.
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Post by gianna on Jul 20, 2023 18:56:16 GMT -5
Our population of quail is very reduced this year. But just yesterday, and again today, I saw a pair that was parenting a tiny group of babies. There seem to be 3 tiny ones, not long hatched. I hope they make it.
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Post by Mumsey on Aug 17, 2023 15:23:34 GMT -5
I put sunflower heads on top of chain link fence today. Noticed 4 gold finches there! Haven’t seen any in a couple years. As I sit here on the deck a hummingbird visits the celosia and zinnias. Not 3 feet from me.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 21, 2023 14:39:31 GMT -5
The Baltimore Orioles have been frequent visitors to the hummingbird feeder for most of the summer. It’s been at least a week since I’ve seen the male having a slurp. And about the same time, while I was enjoying some time on the deck, a female Oriole was really giving me heck for being out there.
Beautiful birds…I bet they’ll be back next year to visit the feeder. 🤞
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Post by binnylou on Dec 4, 2023 10:00:15 GMT -5
On the deck water bowl this morning…6 Yellow Shafted Flickers…all at once. We’ve never seen more than 3 at a time. It looked like coffee time out there.
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