I have thought that it was since they first started nesting here, but only recently had the idea of going out and getting a video of him singing...plus, before the park was mowed I couldn't really do it too easily. Now, I have run him past the Facebook Bird ID Group of the World for verification and can confidently call him a Willow, as opposed to an Alder Flycatcher.
Now I am hearing ANOTHER flycatcher out there. Call very similar to an Eastern Phoebe, but softer, shorter, more clipped....any ideas?
Monday, May 26th. Liz's birthday.
Seen or heard from the house and barn yesterday
Song Sparrow
House Sparrow
European Starling
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
American Robin
American Turkey
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Indigo Bunting
Common Crow
Common Grackle
Canada Goose
American Goldfinch
Carolina Wren
American Robin
American Cardinal
Cedar Waxwing
Grey Catbird
Baltimore Oriole
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Turkey Vulture
American Turkey
Warbling Vireo (life bird for me, right in the box elder across the driveway)
May 25th, most of the above, plus Purple Finch, Bald Eagle, Chipping Sparrow
It hasn't ticked over into drought territory yet, but it is much drier than the previous two or three springs. Much warmer too. The dryness has yielded an unexpected benefit in that the birds need a place to drink...and I have bird baths.
This guy takes a full bath quite often and the mockingbird comes in for a drink every day. I love watching them, so I added another bird bath to this flower bed today.
Getting very spotty germination this year. I am wondering if it is the dry weather and if rain will bring on more stuff. Getting radishes already anyhow.
Crows everywhere.
A plethora of dark-eyed juncos. One red poll. Chickadees. Tufted tit mouses (mice?). White breasted nuthatch. White throated sparrows. Rock doves -called blankety-blank pigeons here in the real world. they are on the steeple again *&^!!) Gold finches. Downy woodpeckers. Cat birds
CAT BIRDS!!! This has to stop!
All the little wild flowers I planted and the calendulas and forgetmenots, dahlias and such are up and in the two leaf stage. There are lily pads open on the garden pond, irises are ready to bloom soon, and lettuce ready to pick. I really need to get the tomatoes and hot peppers out but haven't yet. The sitting porch is ready for sitting and blessedly cool in the afternoon.
I was wondering why the hummers suddenly vanished but a look down the driveway made it all clear. Acres and acres of wild honeysuckle open now..they don't need my sugar water. As I sat looking out at the porch yesterday two vultures flew by and I actually saw the top of them rather than the bottom because they were in the air channel over the river. They look quite exotic from above.
Finally a beautiful day! I hung the wonderful bird bottle I received for Christmas on the honey locust where I have my herb garden. I tossed in a few sun flower seeds and within ten minutes a tufted titmouse was sitting on the perch.
I am plodding away at spring cleaning, but the outdoors calls. Every time I step outside I lose all track of time, forget what I am doing and succumb to the puttering urge. No one should be indoors on a day like this!
Yesterday I planted super sweet one hundred tomatoes, cardinal climber, petunias and moss curled parsley.
Hard frost last night, but sunny and pleasant today. Good maple syrup weather I am thinking. Heard a woodcock out in the old horse pasture last night.
Grackles, red winged black birds, killdeers and robins are back in force. Nice.
Three days ago there were no killdeers and only occasional robins. Now the air is alive with screams of DEE DEE and musical chirping as they go about the business of looking for something to eat on what bare ground there is to be found.
