18-OCT-2010
Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) #4176
In the warmer weather, all our Juncos head up to higher elevations. Now that the weather is turning colder, there have been a few around in the last week. They tend to hang out in the back of the bushes, and to get one out into the open where I could get a picture, I had to spread some millet on the patio. This Gray-Headed Junco was the first to take the bait.
We see mostly three groups of Dark-eyed Juncos -- Oregon Juncos, Pink-Sided Juncos, and Gray-Headed Juncos, all in about equal numbers. We see some, but not many, Slate-Colored Juncos.
14-OCT-2010
Pine Siskin #3992
There are days when I think that all of the Pine Siskins in the world are in my back yard.
13-OCT-2010
Eurasian Collared-Dove #3970
Although we have seen Eurasian Collared-Doves on rooftops and television antennas, they have not been coming down to the ground until the last week or so. They are happy to forage for seed that falls below the feeders. White-winged Doves have been much more attentive to landing on the feeders, being slightly smaller.
12-OCT-2010
Lesser Goldfinch #3870
We see more of the female Lesser Goldfinches than we do males. Compared to earlier in the season, their plumage is now a bit more disheveled. The spend a lot of time on the thistle feeder, and occasionally take a drink from the pond or the birdbath.
09-OCT-2010
Lesser Goldfinch feeding a juvenile #2840
The Lesser Goldfinches are most active early in the morning and late in the evening. We'll get up to a half dozen at a time, especially since this adult is often accompanied by several chicks acting like juveniles. They will eventually fly down to Albuquerque for the winter, and will only visit here occasionally, until next spring.
07-OCT-2010
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Female) #1394
We see three types of hummingbirds here -- Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, and Rufous. Very occasionally a few people see migrating Calliope Hummingbirds. All of them have left now, except a few stragglers, such as this female, which I think is a Broad-tailed Hummingbird. I don't think this is one of the birds that spent the summer here -- this one seemed confused by the feeder, trying to get at the nectar through the bottom. She did figure it out, though, hopped on top and got a drink.
04-OCT-2010
Pine Siskin #1298
Our most prolific visitor has been Pine Siskins in the last month. We sometimes see them monopolizing the seed feeder and the thistle feeder, so that there can easily be a couple of dozen birds in the back yard. This one perched himself in one of the best places I have for pictures, so I obliged him.
01-OCT-2010
Chipping Sparrow #0672
At first glance, I thought I was seeing an ordinary House Sparrow, but the markings are different. I believe this bird is most likely a Chipping Sparrow, in non-breeding plumage (so it does not have the rust stripe on the top of its head. I have seen Chipping Sparrows in the spring (but never posted any), but it has only been in the last week or so that any have been through here this fall. They are more common in open land, but do visit urbanized areas occasionally.
29-SEP-2010
Wilson's Warbler #9991
Here is another short-term visitor, a Wilson's Warbler. Like most other warblers, he is a very busy little bird, recognizable by the black cap on his head. He did not get into the open long enough for many pictures, but he poked out of the sumac bush long enough to give me this heavily cropped opportunity.
26-SEP-2010
Wilson's Warbler (Female) #9897
It's fall migration season, and so we'll be keeping an eye out for some fun species moving through the area. I have seen this bird for the last couple of mornings, flitting from bush to bush, never staying anywhere for long. Today it was curious about drinking from the pond, so I was able to get a picture of it in the open.
24-SEP-2010
House Finch #0036
We have been back from visiting our daughter in California for a few days. While we're gone, the birds have to forage for themselves, since the feeders don't get regular attention. But, when we get back, it does not take too long for the regular visitors to rediscover that we're home. This House Finch (who looks like a first-year male to me, but I am just guessing) is waiting patiently in the pine tree for his turn at the feeder.