July 26, 2017 - middle of the HOT HOT summer!
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Update - a few more summer birds added to the end!
Even though it is not evident by the postings lately, it has been a good summer for birds in our Southern California backyard. We have a very nice returning group of Hooded Orioles that did a great job of rearing families. I believe we have 5 adult pairs and hard to count the juveniles. It never gets boring watching and hearing them playing and chasing!
Here are a couple captures from one of the webcams.
We should have a solid month left before the males begin to leave followed a bit later by the females as they head back to points east/south for the winter.
After a hard day of play, a cool refreshing bath is in order ;-)
We've had several Blackheaded Grosbeaks join us this summer and I believe we got at least a couple offspring!
This little Blackchinned Hummingbird prefers this roosting spot near his favorite feeder, easy to guard it from there! Other hummers include Anna's, Allen's, Costa's at the moment. Mostly Anna's, as they do not migrate and there is a steady local population.
We are very excited about our California Scrub Jays this year. (They just were re-designated from Western Scrub Jay) We had a couple beginning last year, but late this spring we suspected youngsters - and we got at least four! So much fun watching them, though their appetite for mealworms is draining our checkbook ;-)
A new bird for us this year - a Greater Roadrunner has been coming to visit. Mixed feelings about this bird, it has been snacking on our hummingbirds! I understand that is Nature, but I don't have to like it. I am pretty sure there are two adult Roadrunners, because a month or so ago we saw what we are pretty sure was a juvenile RR, so now there are three. Though we have only seen two at a time, and mostly just one.
Hmmm, NOT a hummingbird or Oriole! In fact, when this guy showed up - other birds were few and far between ;-) Possibly a young Cooper's hawk, seems a little big - but too small for a red-tailed or red-shoulder, both of which we have in the area - but they don't often sit on the fence!
A young Kingbird, I think - maybe Cassin's.
Scaly breasted munia, Nutmeg mannikin, Spice Finch in the pet trade. Becoming naturalized in California because so many have escaped or been released.
Other birds visiting our backyard this year (photos to follow) - Spotted towhee, Dark-eyed Junco, California Towhee, Lesser Finches.
As a point of interest - though I have not been keeping receipts - our sugar water usage is about average for us and right around 2 gallons a day. Still buying 25 pound bags every couple weeks!
Thanks for stopping by, I'll try to be a little more consistent in my updates!
