Subject: [Tweeters] Bumper Crop of great birds in Kalama, WA
Date: Jul 31 22:45:24 2014
From: A & S Hill - 60stops2home at kalama.com
This morning (Thursday), we tried out our new "balcony" chairs and table on
the front porch. They must be charmed, as we saw three FOY 2014 species for
our yard! Our leisurely breakfast turned into a two-hour bird show.
A male WILSON'S WARBLER was the first "wow" visitor of the morning.
Naturally, he arrived and departed before the camera was set up.
Next, a male WESTERN TANAGER showed up in an Oak tree, briefly. Gorgeous!
The third FOY for our yard today was a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER preening in
the same Oak tree that the Tanager visited earlier in the morning. By then,
I had the camera set up and was able to snap a few shots of it preening.
Pictures here: https://flic.kr/p/og2QZz
A juvenile DOWNY WOODPECKER made several appearances throughout the day.
Here it is perched in a Douglas Fir just above the feeder:
https://flic.kr/p/oxGjzP
We had a total of three PINE SISKINS who visited the seed and "thistle"
feeders. Most of the male AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES have begun their
post-breeding molt. There is one on the feeder with two Pine Siskins in this
photo: https://flic.kr/p/ovuyiC
The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH pictured here https://flic.kr/p/oxwpfF must be a
youngster, as it stayed right on the feeder pole while I reloaded the seed
feeder and dough block. The adults always flee when I approach the feeder.
Maybe it was fooled by my big straw hat?
It looks like the SPOTTED TOWHEES had a second successful brood this summer.
This youngster was scratching around under the seed feeder today:
https://flic.kr/p/oxwotk
Happy Birding!
Amy Hill
Kalama, Washington
628 feet up in Cowlitz County
60stops 2 home at kalama dot com
Artlessfun at yahoo dot com