Always Looking Forward!

The Beautyberry in the yard remain full of purple-pink berries. The Sassafras trees are beginning to change color and drop a few leaves.  We are enjoying beautiful Swallowtail and Sulphur butterflies  They spend long periods of time gracefully moving about our landscape.  Ruby-throated and Rufous Hummingbirds are competing for nectar, along with honey bees, at our three feeders.  The White-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmouse, and Carolina Chickadees are seen each day.  The boisterous Blue-jays sound their warnings as the enter and exit the yard.  These birds love to show their no fear attitude toward other birds in the area.  Oh, I failed to mention the lovely male and female Summer Tanagers that arrive promptly each day around 5:00 p.m. I am feeling excited thinking of the winter birds returning soon and the fun of seeing migrants stopping for a drink or bath. Summer is surely fading and fall is just around the corner.  Pumpkin recipes are sounding tasty, Blessings!

Wilson's Phalarope

Our visit to Rockport,Texas this spring provided new experiences as well as new life birds. On this first day of April we were visiting The Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas.  I want to encourage you to visit this center if you are in the area. I have visited several times in my life and have never been disappointed.  During migration opportunities abound for viewing species passing across the Texas Coast.  There is a raised boardwalk and observation tower halfway down the boardwalk.  The boardwalk provides a panoramic view of the pond and surrounding flats.  This day, a fellow birder shared a sight he had witnessed as he drove the road toward the center.  A large water filled flat on the right side of the road driving toward the center proved to be an awesome sight for him and for us. The birder believed he had seen the Red-necked Phalarope.  We quickly drove down to check this out.  The birds were actually Wilson's Phalarope.  These were life birds for us.   My heart smiles as I remember watching the Phalarope spinning like tops. The wind was so strong that day. I found it very difficult to keep the camera still.  I was determined to capture these moments and I did. The Phalarope create small whirlpools as they spin.  The whirlpools pull food to the surface where they can pick it up with their long slender bills.  Once again, I am reminded that the natural world may present some new sight for our eyes and senses at any given moment. Blessings to You!

Feeding Our Winter Birds

I find feeding the birds in the winter very rewarding.  As natural food sources deplete in the area, many more birds show themselves at the feeders .  We offer food for our winter friends in hanging feeders, on the ground, suet stuck in holes in cedar snag, suet on bark of tree, peanuts in a feeder and if we are blessed to have a Hummingbird stay the winter, nectar.  I have found that you can attract your birds to many type feeders.  It may take a few days for them to adjust to a new source. Plan to be consistent in your offering and be patient. The suet I make in the winter is popular with nearly all the birds. Our Hermit Thrush, shy as they are, also love the suet.  I have seen them get very comfortable being out in the open to eat it. The American Goldfinch and Pine-Siskin are very eager seed eaters.  We have a tough time keeping them in seed all winter. Each year is unique in which birds spend time in your yard.  We try to offer a variety of food and hope new birds will be attracted to spend time here.  Blessings!