Pleasant Surprises

Feeder activity has been low for the past two weeks, with Rufous Hummingbirds MIA and even BC Chickadees making infrequent visits.  But there have been many interesting surprise visits.  The first began two Firdays ago with a female Mallard and a duckling trekking through our yard.  I don't know of any ponds or creeks in the immediate vicinity, so who knows where they were going.  A few hours afterwards, a Wilson's Warbler was spotted in the neighbor's yard.  And if that wasn't enough, a one-eyed Fox Sparrow was seen "double-scratching" for food under the Rhododendon bushes in the front yard the next morning.  What a crazy 18 hours!


Oregon Ducks, indeed!


"Yarr!  Joe's be the only place for Steve."

For the next weeks, almost nothing of interest was seen.  We saw lots of cool stuff at the Wings and Wine Festival (everything from Great Blue Herons to Evening Grosbeaks), but nothing interesting in the yard.  However, I saw what I initially thought was some species of Warbler at the bird bath earlier in the week.  It turns out that our friendly neighborhood Lesser Goldfinches were bringing their youngsters to the yard - and I've seen them just about every day since.  And then the big treat came today.  I've been waiting almost a full year, and at 7:50 this morning a female Pine Siskin was snacking away at one of the thistle feeders.  A Lesser Goldfinch chased her away before I could snap a photo.  Hopefully she'll bring some friends back tomorrow.


The Lesser Family.  Top to bottom: Dad, Mom, and the kids.  (Mental note: Clean the windows soon!)

• Posted at Saturday, May 19, 2007 10:10 PM
• In General Category | Permalink