Ornithology and Birdwatching

[BantyChooks]

Anyone seen any interesting birds lately? I watched a few documentaries on kingfishers and now I wish I’d get the chance to see one.

 

[TOMTE]

Anyone seen any interesting birds lately? I watched a few documentaries on kingfishers and now I wish I’d get the chance to see one.

We've got kingfishers here! The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is the only species in Michigan and they're here year round. I often see them when I walk to the marsh!

Yesterday I counted 12 blue jays in the trees in front of our house, and there were a lot more that I couldn't see on the property. I absolutely adore blue jays.

We've had flocks of cedar waxwings stopping by occasionally to feast in our crabapple tree! Such beautiful birds.

And lots of hawks and other raptors still. They're not hanging around as much now that the chickens are in the run for the winter, but I see and hear them around. Yesterday while I was hanging out with them they alerted me to a bald eagle soaring super high over our property!

It's been warm the past few days so when the temps drop again and we get more snow, I'm going to spread some suet on some trees and stumps around the property and set up my phone on a tripod to get some video of the activity. Last time I did it I didn't get video but there were so many birds. Mostly blue jays, dark eyed juncos, hairy and downy woodpeckers, a couple pileated woodpeckers, and cardinals. I love winter because I get to know our year-round birds better!

 

[BantyChooks]

We've got kingfishers here! The belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is the only species in Michigan and they're here year round. I often see them when I walk to the marsh!

Yesterday I counted 12 blue jays in the trees in front of our house, and there were a lot more that I couldn't see on the property. I absolutely adore blue jays.

We've had flocks of cedar waxwings stopping by occasionally to feast in our crabapple tree! Such beautiful birds.

And lots of hawks and other raptors still. They're not hanging around as much now that the chickens are in the run for the winter, but I see and hear them around. Yesterday while I was hanging out with them they alerted me to a bald eagle soaring super high over our property!

It's been warm the past few days so when the temps drop again and we get more snow, I'm going to spread some suet on some trees and stumps around the property and set up my phone on a tripod to get some video of the activity. Last time I did it I didn't get video but there were so many birds. Mostly blue jays, dark eyed juncos, hairy and downy woodpeckers, a couple pileated woodpeckers, and cardinals. I love winter because I get to know our year-round birds better!

Wow, very fun!

 

[azurbanclucker]

 

[TOMTE]

Unconfirmed, but I think I've been hearing a flock of Bohemian waxwings in and around the crabapple tree these past few days! I'm charging my phone now to set up the tripod and record. Hopefully I'll get some good audio, if not video, and be able to positively identify them. I know the cedar waxwings and bluebirds have been visiting frequently, because I hear and see them a lot.

Dark-eyed juncos, house finches, cardinals, blue jays, white- and red-breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, black-capped chickadees... The usual suspects are everywhere. Lots of activity even though we've stopped feeding the birds. It's so cool to see them foraging naturally!

This winter I'd love to see:

Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius). They're here nearly year-round but I seem to hear them most often in winter, so I probably have a better chance of finally seeing one in winter

 

[BantyChooks]

View attachment 4021716

Very nice pic.

 

[TOMTE]

 

[ShrekDawg]

There’s been a painted bunting hanging around our neighborhood. Our neighborhood FB page is loaded with posts about him.