Subject: [Tweeters] Red-headed Red-wing Blackbird and Other Backyard
Date: Jul 14 18:41:44 2010
From: diane_weinstein at msn.com - diane_weinstein at msn.com


Dear Tweeters,

This spring a Red-winged Blackbird showed up at the feeder. His head was bright read with no feathers. I wondered what had happened to him that his head was bald and the skin looked red and inflamed. I have seen him on a few occasions since and saw him again yesterday. The head is still red and bald, but not as red as before. He now has a small clump of feathers at the top of his head, but they stick straight up like a tuft. So I guess he is really a Tufted Red-headed Red-winged Blackbird. Anyone have any ideas as to what could have caused this condition?

Here are a few other observations from the backyard.

A few weeks ago, I heard a strange drumming on the chimney cap. I thought it must be a Flicker, but it sounded different. When I went outside to look, there was a Red-breasted Sapsucker drumming on the cap.

I saw my crow family eating rose petals off the low growing branches of the shrub roses. It must have made a tasty snack or dessert. Several years ago, I had House Finches swishing rose petals in the bird bath before bathing.

There are far fewer Violet-green Swallows this year. In fact, I am hardly seeing any flying over.

A pair of California Quail have been coming into the yard. This is the first time in four or five years.

I have almost no bees! I have a lot of flowering plants and shrubs that are usually buzzing this time of year. I have two very large Abelia shrubs that are covered with small pink flowers. Usually at any point of time during the summer, the Abelia's are literally covered with hundreds of bees of different types. I had some bees up to a few weeks ago and now they have mostly disappeared. This morning I counted two bees. I also saw honey bees going in and out of the rockery and thought they must have a hive in there, but they are now gone, too. Is anyone else noticing an absence of bees?

Diane Weinstein
Issaquah