Thursday, March 24, 2011

Orioles Are Beginning to Show Up

Quick note - The 'time lapse' is new and though it goes fast, you can see the orioles at the feeders. You can also signup for email notice when an update is added to the blog.

Today is the first day I have seen more than one hooded oriole at the same time, so I know there is more than one and not just seeing the same one repeatedly. The best non-visual clue is the chatter they make when more than one are in close proximity. There are at least 3 males in the area now, should soon be seeing the females. The first photo shows the 3rd male, the next photo is two in the dead 'hummingbird bush'.


It is a bit hard to see the second one, he is left and down a bit from the easy one to see. Below is an (and maybe the) old guy guarding his feeder (just below him out of the photo).

Still have not identified any other hummers besides Anna's yet - soon, I suspect.

I will get better photos of orioles later, had to zoom in a lot and camera shake is blurring the shots a bit.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The First Orioles of Spring

A couple new gadgets added to blog, time lapse of the last 24 hours is most significant.

Spring must be here! Its been 365 days since the first sighting last year, it was Saturday 13th of March 2010. That is pretty good timing! No photo yet, when there is only one - opportunities are fewer. No new sighting of hummer as they pass through yet. Judging by the amount of sugar usage, the population is pretty stable right now.

Update 3/21 - Okay, first photo of Hooded oriole this year, a capture off of webcam - poor quality, but there he is.

Some other signs of spring -


Blue Eyed Grass beginning to bloom


A couple of male Anna's sharing some lunch.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Spring is on the Way

February went out with a blast of cold and rain. Seems to have left the Hummers with a big appetite. I came home to a backyard of hungry and maybe annoyed birds, all of there feeders were empty. By the time I mixed up 3 gallons of fresh drink (required to refill all the feeders), it was dark and the birds were gone. At least this morning breakfast was ready to go!

We should just be a week or two away from the first Hooded Orioles showing up, unless the unusually cold and rainy weather affects their timing. They are a sure sign of spring here. Have not seen any migrating hummers either, yet.