Migration is both in full force, and stalled out. Many bird species are stopping on their northern journey when they discover the land north of Duluth is locked in ice and snow. While getting back to breeding grounds first is important, being able to find food is also imperative. Over the past few days, I have watched birds raid my feeders forcing me to refill three times each day … using 10+ in bird seen every day.
This morning the rush seems to be a bit calmer. The hordes of redpolls and juncos are now just small flocks. Yesterday afternoon during a 30 minute period, I saw all of these birds in my yard … a few are obviously not feeder birds.
- American Goldfinches
- American Robins
- Blue Jays
- Brown Creepers
- Common Grackles
- Common Redpolls
- Mourning Doves
- Northern Cardinals
- Pine Siskins
- Purple Finches
- Red-Breasted Nuthatch
- Slate-Colored Juncos
- Sparrows
- American Tree Sparrows
- Fox Sparrows
- White-Crowned Sparrows
- White-Throated Sparrows
- White-Breasted Nuthatch
- Woodpeckers (each species use the same 3 trees for drumming!)
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Pileated Woodpeckers
- Red-Bellied Woodpecker
- Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Here are three very short videos, which show just how crazy active my feeders have been. From sunrise to sunset normally there were always hundreds of birds in my yard. I have six feeders. (video links for email subscribers: Video 1 – Video 2 – Video 3). It never ceases to amaze me how many redpolls can attach themselves to a thistle seed feeder (vid #2)
Photographs (a photobombing squirrel was even captured in the final image!)
Great Horned Owl Pic of the Day: I visited my owls three times yesterday. Last year Les and Amy were essentially yard birds; this year they are making me hike a bit to see their family.
What is the first bird and seventh bird?
Sorry … should have labeled everything. The first bird is a male common redpoll, while the last bird is a white-throated sparrow. Both are migrants moving further north.
What is the bird just below the cardinal? Thanks.
A male purple finch, which have truly invaded my yard this Sunday afternoon. I easily count 10+ males at any one time. The females look more like a large sparrow … no purple at all.
I’m following a pair of Great Horned with two owlets, nested very high this year so no photo ops, but fun to watch and maybe when they brave leaving the nest I will get a closer look without stressing them. Thanks for sharing all your photos.
Your feeder pictures are amazing! So many hungry birds. Thanks for sharing the action in your back yard. And the continuing photos of Les and Amy and their owlets.