22-MAR-2014
American Robin (0140)
I liked this picture of our morning Robin because he is standing on the skim of ice on the
birdbath. A few seconds later, he fell through, took a quick drink, and then went back to
find grapes that I toss onto the grass.
21-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (0073)
This American Goldfinch has progressed through the spring molt about as far as any at the moment.
19-MAR-2014
House Finches on the Lookout (0019)
Our birds this year seem more skittish than in other years. Maybe it is the Cooper's Hawks
or the neighbor's cats. In any case, they will scatter to the tops of the trees and keep
lookout for potential problems, as these two House Finches are doing, sitting up at the top of our pear tree.
18-MAR-2014
Lincoln's Sparrow (0205)
Lincoln Sparrows do not turn up here very often, just in the spring and fall. This one is policing the area underneath a feeder, looking for spilled seed.
17-MAR-2014
Canyon Towhee (9995)
Canyon Towhees are another bird that resides here all year long, often traveling in groups
of two or three as they forage. In the springtime, they seem especially curious, and I
often find one rummaging around in my garage in the middle of the day. This fellow is
checking out my winter bath-pond, trying to decide if a drink would be nice.
16-MAR-2014
Pine Siskin (9962)
We generally see Pine Siskins all year long in this area, but they have been noticeably
absent for the last several months, as is characteristic of this irruptive species.
At first glance, they resemble female House Finches, but they are much smaller,
have a very sharp pointed beak, and a v-shaped notched tail.
14-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (9916)
Here is another molting American Goldfinch (compare with yesterday's post). This one has new yellow
feathers developing along the flank. By mid-April they should be pretty much finished, although
every bird takes his own course through molting. By the second week of May, they will all leave and
head for more northerly climates.
13-MAR-2014
American Goldfinch (9869)
Our American Goldfinches are beginning to molt into their summer plumage,
characterized by the rich canary-yellow of the males, and the deep golden yellows
of the females. This particular bird is showing a deeper yellow below the throat,
and its beak is turning a bit more orange. I suspect this one is a male.
In another month, they will be mostly complete in their molting.
12-MAR-2014
Lesser Goldfinch (0438)
Our Lesser Goldfinches are molting now, and so it's a little hard for me to tell whether
this one is male or female, but my guess, based on the low contrast in the wing feathers,
is that it is a young female that was probably born last summer.
She is settling in for a short bath in the waterfall.
11-MAR-2014
Eurasian Collared-Dove (0322)
The Eurasian Collared-Doves are getting a bit more active. They stay here year-round, and are
usually not very assertive, allowing themselves to get pushed around by the more common White-winged Doves.
But in the springtime, they have a little more attitude, and hold their own.
10-MAR-2014
European Starling (0276)
Our Starlings are reasonably common visitors, except for a slow period in late summer. Not
surprisingly, they are noisy, travel in flocks of 3-20, and can clean out a suet feeder in a
short time. Fortunately, they are not a big problem (yet);
that honor is reserved for our White-winged Doves.
08-MAR-2014
Western Scrub-Jay (0128)
Like most Jays, our Western Scrub-Jays are very gregarious. I set a few peanuts out and
they show up regularly to move them around, hide them, and occasionally they eat a few.