I can’t quite remember if last October was this way, but it seems like a quiet season right now.
We of course still have all of our mourning doves coming to the feeders. At least a dozen. It’s so funny to me how they all seem to come at the same time and then fight over the food. Fascinating that there’s something in their internal clocks that says, Now is the time to eat, even if that means competing with the other birds rather than waiting 5 minutes for them to move on. Our grass under the feeders seems to always have a layer of mourning dove feathers from them pecking each other away.
Our bluebirds are still here, coming to the feeders each day. I think these are different than the ones who were born here this spring. There’s about 4 or 5 of them. It’s usually too chilly now for them to bathe, but I was lucky enough to see a female in the birdbath for a minute yesterday. It’s always my favorite.
Our one fall migrant who’s been here consistently is the pine warblers. We have at least 6, probably more although I never see more than 4 or 5 at a time. I really do love them. I know they’re common, I don’t think most birders get excited to see them since they’re not rare or elusive. But some of the males are so bright and so beautiful. In general I love warblers, with their tiny little bodies darting around so quickly. For some reason I also love that they eat the suet. I can’t explain that one.
I’ve seen a few palm warblers. Also common but also very fun to watch. I love any bird who twitches their tail. A few weeks ago there were several in our far yard hunting bugs. I hadn’t seen any since then, but just a few moments ago I saw one at one of the blue feeders grabbing a few mealworms before flying into our shrubs.
But none of that is as exciting to me as my Eastern phoebe. My favorite.
First, he’s so fluffy. He does the tail twitch. I know he’s just grayish and white but I don’t find him drab at all; he’s so. cute. His cute little call feee beeee that isn’t actually a pretty birdsong at all but is somehow a-dorable.
I love that he’s a loner. I’ve never seen any together. I’m sure I’m not always seeing the same bird, but I always just say “it’s my phoebe,” like he’s the only one who has ever existed. And who knows, maybe it’s a female. Can’t tell ’em apart. I just read that they are solitary birds in the winter – they don’t even join other groups of birds to hang out, which I’ve noticed too. Ugh. I just love them.
I think it was about 2 weeks ago now, maybe a little less, when Aaron and I were on a walk. I thought I heard the fee-bee call and paused to try to record it. Of course as soon as I did, it stopped. A few days later I was at Lauren’s hanging out outside and one came and perched on her fence a little ways down from some bluebirds and a mockingbird. I was stoked. First, I was feeling pretty good about myself for recognizing its call a few days before (validated). Second, it’s my fave winter bird, of course I’m pumped.
Phoebe was kind enough to perch at the end of our neighbors’ fence the other morning so that I could snap a few photos of him. Haven’t seen him at our feeders yet, but if I recall correctly, they hang in the area and at the fences for a while and don’t come to the feeders until further into the winter.
Fingers crossed that he’ll stick around even while we’re on vacation and come to our feeders once we return.
A few others worth noting:
We have at least 3 house finches coming every few days. I saw a male cardinal in the shrubs recently, chirping away like he wanted to come eat but was too timid. Every once in a while I’ll see a mockingbird come to the feeders – not to eat, just to scare off the other birds. Haven’t seen any chickadees or titmice in a while, but I hear them in the forest sometimes.
No yellow rumpers yet. No goldfinches. Those are the only other winter regulars that I can think of that we get.
Our mallard couples are still in the pond most days, but I haven’t seen them come to the feeders for a few weeks. Looks like we have a solo grebe who’s been hanging out daily.
Great egrets most days, I think snowy egrets too. Great blue herons come and go, same with the little blue herons. Oh, we saw some ibis in the trees on our walk a few weeks ago. It was pretty cool, they were all perched in different branches at the edge of the path coming back from the other side of the sub right at the edge of the gravel path. They let us walk right under them without flying away.
I’ve been seeing an adult bald eagle at least once a week. Haven’t seen any hawks recently but hear a red shouldered frequently, especially in the mornings.
Not a bird, but we also have a fox 🙂 I’ve seen him about 3 or 4 times now, on the other side of the pond. And some deer every once in a while too.