copywrite©Marjie Gemmell
AN AUTUMN FAREWELL
TO SUMMER BIRD VISITORS
August, September and October bring poignant farewells to some of our most cherished feathered friends. Many of our summer breeding species are on the wing, heading south to warmer climates and richer winter food sources.
The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are all but gone from my backyard feeders. Perhaps a few late migrants will stop to feed on their way south, but the whir and squeaks of our summer hummers is sadly missing from the feeding station. I will leave the feeders up until the end of October, because many migrants depend on feeders as late fall food sources.
Along my river trail this end of September, many species have already disappeared. American Redstarts, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow-throated, Parula and Yellow Warblers, along with my favorite warbler songster, the Louisiana Waterthrushes are heard no more. The number of vireos has diminished also. During spring and summer I hear White-eyed, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos from one end of the trail to the other. Today I heard one song in four miles – that from a Red-eyed Vireo.
The chorus of breeding bird species is winding down fast. Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, House Wrens, Indigo Buntings, Wood Thrushes, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Great-crested, Acadian and Least Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebes and Eastern Wood Peewees are among the missing.
Autumn is a time of farewell for sure, but without the gloomy goodbyes, how could there be the profuse joy of spring migration when we welcome them all back to our yards and woods? Guess you can’t have one without the other! Good birding!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Butterfly Bushes Attract Hummers & More
copyright©MarjieGemmell
BUTTERFLY BUSHES ATTRACT HUMMERS & MORE!
The past few weeks I’ve found myself spending a lot of time with a field guide – and it’s NOT my trusty bird book. Usually bird identification takes up my free time, but now bird watching is sharing the spotlight with butterfly identification!
Last year, while visiting a friend, I was astounded by the number and variety of butterflies on a large butterfly bush planted a few feet from her patio. When planting season rolled around this spring, I purchased two butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) for my backyard. I chose a “Black Knight” variety, and a “Nanho Blue”.
Both bushes thrived through spring and early summer and once the sweet-scented, purple and blue flower spikes began to appear, the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds found them. Between visits to the sugar water feeders, they lazily roamed from spike to spike, wings whirring as they sampled one spike after another.
Now it is mid-September and the female hummingbirds are still enjoying the butterfly bushes, but they are far out-numbered by literally dozens of butterflies!
I’ve long been acquainted with Monarch Butterflies, having led many groups of children and adults on Monarch tagging forays. In my area Monarchs are everywhere, especially in the fall, so I was not surprised to find many Monarch’s feeding on the bushes. – sometimes half a dozen or more at one time.
To my great delight other vibrant, multi-colored butterflies began to visit and feed on the bushes. I was familiar with a lot of the varieties, but usually only catch a quick glimpse and have seconds to identify the species as they float by, or rest for a moment on a flower. Having them come to feed on my bushes gives me long moments to check out their patterns, spots and colors. What a thrill to observe the flashy swallowtails -- Zebra Spicebush, Eastern Tiger, and Pipevine Swallowtails -- up close and personal! Not so flashy, but equally cool to watch are American Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Red-spotted Purples, plus various Fritillary and Sulphur species.
All told, I’m having a ball watching the hummers and the butterflies. They arrive in early morning and are active most of the day until near dusk, keeping my deck area alive with color and movement. I sure am glad I added those butterfly bushes to my landscape!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
BUTTERFLY BUSHES ATTRACT HUMMERS & MORE!
The past few weeks I’ve found myself spending a lot of time with a field guide – and it’s NOT my trusty bird book. Usually bird identification takes up my free time, but now bird watching is sharing the spotlight with butterfly identification!
Last year, while visiting a friend, I was astounded by the number and variety of butterflies on a large butterfly bush planted a few feet from her patio. When planting season rolled around this spring, I purchased two butterfly bushes (Buddleia davidii) for my backyard. I chose a “Black Knight” variety, and a “Nanho Blue”.
Both bushes thrived through spring and early summer and once the sweet-scented, purple and blue flower spikes began to appear, the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds found them. Between visits to the sugar water feeders, they lazily roamed from spike to spike, wings whirring as they sampled one spike after another.
Now it is mid-September and the female hummingbirds are still enjoying the butterfly bushes, but they are far out-numbered by literally dozens of butterflies!
I’ve long been acquainted with Monarch Butterflies, having led many groups of children and adults on Monarch tagging forays. In my area Monarchs are everywhere, especially in the fall, so I was not surprised to find many Monarch’s feeding on the bushes. – sometimes half a dozen or more at one time.
To my great delight other vibrant, multi-colored butterflies began to visit and feed on the bushes. I was familiar with a lot of the varieties, but usually only catch a quick glimpse and have seconds to identify the species as they float by, or rest for a moment on a flower. Having them come to feed on my bushes gives me long moments to check out their patterns, spots and colors. What a thrill to observe the flashy swallowtails -- Zebra Spicebush, Eastern Tiger, and Pipevine Swallowtails -- up close and personal! Not so flashy, but equally cool to watch are American Painted Ladies, Red Admirals, Red-spotted Purples, plus various Fritillary and Sulphur species.
All told, I’m having a ball watching the hummers and the butterflies. They arrive in early morning and are active most of the day until near dusk, keeping my deck area alive with color and movement. I sure am glad I added those butterfly bushes to my landscape!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
Monday, September 17, 2007
Shorebirds & Mud Flat Birding
copyright©MarjieGemmell
SHOREBIRDS & MUD FLAT BIRDING
Crisp autumn mornings in my home state of Ohio, are the perfect time to venture out onto local mudflats in search of shorebirds.
Many birders don’t give shorebirds ‘top billing’, nor indeed even try to identify them. But, to me observing and identifying waders and shorebirds is the ultimate bird watching experience. It is also the birding experience that takes the most patience, in my estimation.
Drawbacks to watching shorebirds are numerous. By reputation, “they all look alike”, in fact, they do not. However, feathered in subtle shades of browns and grays, and taking into consideration their many molts and plumages, they can be tough to identify. Habitat can be a sticky-wicket too. They seem to congregate several hundred yards out on a mud flat that is not only mushy to walk on, but as the temperature climbs the decaying odors of the mud flat rises around you like a ‘sweet perfume’.
This morning I had the pleasure of mud flat birding for several hours. Beginning just after dawn, the sun’s early rays, made even the mud look good, and I found several small pockets of shorebirds. I saw nothing exceptional or rare, but rather the usual suspects which today included Least, Semi-palmated and Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and Semi-palmated Plovers, Lesser Yellowlegs and a small flock of Sanderlings. Causing a bit more excitement were four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, flying low and circling before settling down. Of course, they were just about as far away on the other side of the mud as they could be, but with the scope readily identifiable.
A couple other highlights of the morning included watching a Merlin chasing after Monarch Butterflies! It was quite a sight to see him wheeling and diving after the illusive prey. Also, not so ‘pretty’ to observe, but very interesting, the remains of a shorebird which had probably been last night’s dinner for the falcon. All that was left of the bird was its wings, two legs and feet, the head & bill. From the shape and size of the bill and feather coloration I made a preliminary identification of Stilt Sandpiper, but after conversation with other birders, we all agreed it was more probably a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher.
You just never know what you might find out on the mud! Perhaps that’s why mud flat birding is always an exciting prospect for me. Good Birding!
Cheeps & Chirps!
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
SHOREBIRDS & MUD FLAT BIRDING
Crisp autumn mornings in my home state of Ohio, are the perfect time to venture out onto local mudflats in search of shorebirds.
Many birders don’t give shorebirds ‘top billing’, nor indeed even try to identify them. But, to me observing and identifying waders and shorebirds is the ultimate bird watching experience. It is also the birding experience that takes the most patience, in my estimation.
Drawbacks to watching shorebirds are numerous. By reputation, “they all look alike”, in fact, they do not. However, feathered in subtle shades of browns and grays, and taking into consideration their many molts and plumages, they can be tough to identify. Habitat can be a sticky-wicket too. They seem to congregate several hundred yards out on a mud flat that is not only mushy to walk on, but as the temperature climbs the decaying odors of the mud flat rises around you like a ‘sweet perfume’.
This morning I had the pleasure of mud flat birding for several hours. Beginning just after dawn, the sun’s early rays, made even the mud look good, and I found several small pockets of shorebirds. I saw nothing exceptional or rare, but rather the usual suspects which today included Least, Semi-palmated and Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer and Semi-palmated Plovers, Lesser Yellowlegs and a small flock of Sanderlings. Causing a bit more excitement were four Buff-breasted Sandpipers, flying low and circling before settling down. Of course, they were just about as far away on the other side of the mud as they could be, but with the scope readily identifiable.
A couple other highlights of the morning included watching a Merlin chasing after Monarch Butterflies! It was quite a sight to see him wheeling and diving after the illusive prey. Also, not so ‘pretty’ to observe, but very interesting, the remains of a shorebird which had probably been last night’s dinner for the falcon. All that was left of the bird was its wings, two legs and feet, the head & bill. From the shape and size of the bill and feather coloration I made a preliminary identification of Stilt Sandpiper, but after conversation with other birders, we all agreed it was more probably a juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher.
You just never know what you might find out on the mud! Perhaps that’s why mud flat birding is always an exciting prospect for me. Good Birding!
Cheeps & Chirps!
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
Friday, September 14, 2007
Dead Trees Are For The Birds
copywrite©Marjie Gemmell
DEAD TREES ARE FOR THE BIRDS!
Everyone who enjoys watching birds, getting to know the birds and identifying various feathered visitors, is always trying to figure out new ways to encourage and attract more species to back yards and surrounding environs.
One of the best and easiest ways is to increase the types of habitat and food sources you offer. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is bird feeders and water sources, and there’s no doubt how important those resources are to wild birds. But let’s think outside the bird feeder/nest box mentality… LET’S THINK DEAD TREES!
If a tree dies in our yard, we call someone to cut it down and haul it away. That’s normal behavior! But, what if we did not? What if we
gave a thought to saving the dead tree (or part of it) to benefit wildlife, and especially birds? A snag of any height, or even a stump offers lots of advantages to birds.
Woodpeckers come to mind first, and who doesn’t want to attract such fascinating creatures, to observe up close and personal? From the charming little downy woodpecker, to the flickers, to the boldly colored red-headed woodpecker, or any of the myriad species of woodpeckers throughout the country…they all love snags and stumps!
And let’s not forget other cavity nesters, such as wood ducks and kestrels. Many of the gleaners (titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches) like the soft wood of an old snag - - - it’s easy to excavate.
Snags, stumps or even a couple logs left undisturbed, can yield a host of insects for foraging birds of all kinds. To add extra appeal plant some grasses and plants, to afford the birds a place to hide from predators. Birds appreciate the protection of a spot to duck in to!
All that’s left to do then is sit back and sharpen your bird identification skills as you watch your new birds!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
DEAD TREES ARE FOR THE BIRDS!
Everyone who enjoys watching birds, getting to know the birds and identifying various feathered visitors, is always trying to figure out new ways to encourage and attract more species to back yards and surrounding environs.
One of the best and easiest ways is to increase the types of habitat and food sources you offer. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is bird feeders and water sources, and there’s no doubt how important those resources are to wild birds. But let’s think outside the bird feeder/nest box mentality… LET’S THINK DEAD TREES!
If a tree dies in our yard, we call someone to cut it down and haul it away. That’s normal behavior! But, what if we did not? What if we
gave a thought to saving the dead tree (or part of it) to benefit wildlife, and especially birds? A snag of any height, or even a stump offers lots of advantages to birds.
Woodpeckers come to mind first, and who doesn’t want to attract such fascinating creatures, to observe up close and personal? From the charming little downy woodpecker, to the flickers, to the boldly colored red-headed woodpecker, or any of the myriad species of woodpeckers throughout the country…they all love snags and stumps!
And let’s not forget other cavity nesters, such as wood ducks and kestrels. Many of the gleaners (titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches) like the soft wood of an old snag - - - it’s easy to excavate.
Snags, stumps or even a couple logs left undisturbed, can yield a host of insects for foraging birds of all kinds. To add extra appeal plant some grasses and plants, to afford the birds a place to hide from predators. Birds appreciate the protection of a spot to duck in to!
All that’s left to do then is sit back and sharpen your bird identification skills as you watch your new birds!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
copywrite©Marjie Gemmell
THE CAT’S (bird) MEOW!
Has anyone else noticed catbirds can be difficult to observe in spring and summer? I walk along a river trail five days a week, and hear catbird songs and calls quite often, but only get a quick peek at them as they seem to stay behind the first layer of vegetation. Oh, occasionally I see one perched up…but not often. That makes a case for knowing your bird songs and calls! Sometimes bird identification takes “bird listening” rather than “bird watching”!
The experienced birder depends more on his ears than on his eyes. I am a big fan of birding by ear. In years of leading bird walks and teaching bird identification, I have become a believer in the method called “PARAPHRASING”. I think it’s the easiest way to learn ‘who’s hiding in the bushes’! One of the free bonus articles I offer with the purchase of my e-book, “A Blueprint for Bird Identification” (available on my web site), is entitled “Significance of Bird Songs and Calls”. It has good information on paraphrasing --- the act of interpreting a bird song with your own words.
Oh, and back to the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), and my observations of his shy behavior in spring and summer. Early fall brings quite a change in that habit…at least on my river trail. Now, I see catbirds every few hundred feet, not only perched in full view, but nonchalantly feeding in plain sight on the trail, not even bothering to dive into cover! I am fearful of stepping on them! Is it the fact that nesting and parenting responsibilities are over and they are “free” to feed and cavort in the open? I really don’t have the answer…but I sure enjoy the Gray Catbird in autumn!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
THE CAT’S (bird) MEOW!
Has anyone else noticed catbirds can be difficult to observe in spring and summer? I walk along a river trail five days a week, and hear catbird songs and calls quite often, but only get a quick peek at them as they seem to stay behind the first layer of vegetation. Oh, occasionally I see one perched up…but not often. That makes a case for knowing your bird songs and calls! Sometimes bird identification takes “bird listening” rather than “bird watching”!
The experienced birder depends more on his ears than on his eyes. I am a big fan of birding by ear. In years of leading bird walks and teaching bird identification, I have become a believer in the method called “PARAPHRASING”. I think it’s the easiest way to learn ‘who’s hiding in the bushes’! One of the free bonus articles I offer with the purchase of my e-book, “A Blueprint for Bird Identification” (available on my web site), is entitled “Significance of Bird Songs and Calls”. It has good information on paraphrasing --- the act of interpreting a bird song with your own words.
Oh, and back to the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis), and my observations of his shy behavior in spring and summer. Early fall brings quite a change in that habit…at least on my river trail. Now, I see catbirds every few hundred feet, not only perched in full view, but nonchalantly feeding in plain sight on the trail, not even bothering to dive into cover! I am fearful of stepping on them! Is it the fact that nesting and parenting responsibilities are over and they are “free” to feed and cavort in the open? I really don’t have the answer…but I sure enjoy the Gray Catbird in autumn!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie Gemmell
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
Saturday, September 8, 2007
SO LONG, MR. RUBY-THROAT!
copywrite©MarjieGemmell
SO LONG, MR. RUBY-THROAT!
I knew summer was waning for certain when I awakened this morning, took my morning coffee to the deck and found female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds doing sentry duty at the feeders.
All summer it's the male hummers who have guarded the backyard food sources with a vengeance. From several good perches in a nearby smoke-bush and crab-apple, the Ruby-throated Boys surveyed their domain and woe to any other - male or female - who ventured too close! Demonstrating several types of aerial antics, including dive displays, tail-spreading and vertical flights, this territorial behavior often became quite aggressive. My husband and I passed many delightful hours watching and enjoying their acrobatics.
Here in the eastern half of North America, we are normally graced with only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), and welcome them back with great joy the last week or so of April. Then in late August to early September the males head south and the females quite enthusiastically take over the perches and give all comers a run for their money. When that happens, I know fall is near and winter not far behind!
Incidentally, if you live in the eastern half of the country, keep your hummingbird identification skills keen. For while it's true the Ruby-throated is the only breeding hummer in the east, several of the western species wander east, especially in the fall. Good Birding!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
SO LONG, MR. RUBY-THROAT!
I knew summer was waning for certain when I awakened this morning, took my morning coffee to the deck and found female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds doing sentry duty at the feeders.
All summer it's the male hummers who have guarded the backyard food sources with a vengeance. From several good perches in a nearby smoke-bush and crab-apple, the Ruby-throated Boys surveyed their domain and woe to any other - male or female - who ventured too close! Demonstrating several types of aerial antics, including dive displays, tail-spreading and vertical flights, this territorial behavior often became quite aggressive. My husband and I passed many delightful hours watching and enjoying their acrobatics.
Here in the eastern half of North America, we are normally graced with only Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), and welcome them back with great joy the last week or so of April. Then in late August to early September the males head south and the females quite enthusiastically take over the perches and give all comers a run for their money. When that happens, I know fall is near and winter not far behind!
Incidentally, if you live in the eastern half of the country, keep your hummingbird identification skills keen. For while it's true the Ruby-throated is the only breeding hummer in the east, several of the western species wander east, especially in the fall. Good Birding!
Cheeps & Chirps!
Marjie
To learn more about bird identification go to:
www.easybirdidentification.com
Posted by Marjie Gemmell
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